PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Contact:: Eric Escudero Manager of Public Relations AAA Colorado Office: 303-210-2904 eescudero@colorado.aaa.com AAA Colorado supports passage of seat belt legislation DENVER, April 9 — The Colorado House of Representatives will have the opportunity on Thursday, April 12, to cast a vote to measurably improve safety on Colorado highways and save lives by passing Senate Bill 151, which would make seat belt use in Colorado a standard enforced law. “Based on experience of 25 other states which have passed standard enforcement, the true effectiveness of this bill is that it will result in a much larger portion of Colorado drivers and passengers wearing their seat belts,” says Tony DeNovellis, President and CEO of AAA Colorado. “It is a fact that when seat belt use increases, traffic fatalities and injuries decrease.” Continuing its 100-year-plus tradition of being an advocate for the motorist, AAA Colorado is strongly supporting Senate Bill 151. The Colorado State Senate approved the bill on February 27. If the bill is approved in the Colorado House of Representatives, and signed by Governor Ritter, law enforcement would be able to pull over any motorist who is clearly not wearing a seat belt. The bill also strengthens current provisions by requiring booster seats for children up to 8 years old if they are less than 57 inches tall. Opponents of the bill have argued that it would take away personal choice and that the only victims of non-seat belt use are the people who choose not to wear the life-saving device. “All motorists are paying a price for the lack of seat belt use in Colorado,” says DeNovellis. “Families and taxpayers have often been forced to pick up the tab for motorists who are severely injured and require long-term medical care. Another factor is the traumatic emotional damage suffered by surviving motorists involved in an accident where there is a fatality.” AAA Colorado is one of the charter members of the Colorado Seat Belt Coalition, an alliance of local businesses, law enforcement agencies and parents working to increase seat belt awareness though education and legislation. The goal of the Coalition is to increase the number of lives saved each year by the wearing seat belts. Seat Belt Facts: According to the Colorado Dept. of Transportation 231 of the 381 motor vehicle occupant fatalities in Colorado (60.6%) in 2006 were not wearing seat belts. In 2005, 258 of the 460 motor vehicle occupant fatalities in Colorado (56%) were not wearing seat belts. Traffic related injuries are the leading cause of death for America’s children and young adults, ages 1-33. According to Craig Hospital in Littleton, Colo., approximately 80 percent of auto injury patients were not wearing seat belts; two out of three auto injuries would be prevented by wearing a seat belt; $2.5-$4.5 million is the lifetime estimated cost of care for long term brain and spinal injuries; approximately 30 percent of long-term auto accident injuries become Medicaid dependant. AAA Colorado reaches one in four households in the state and is an advocate for safety and security for all travelers. As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides 50 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services, as well as member-exclusive savings. ### Media: Sign up to receive news and updates from AAA. >>>> Click Here