ATLANTA – State Sen. Don Thomas (R-Dalton) has introduced legislation to amend Georgia’s safety belt law to include pickup trucks.

Senate Bill 86 will require anyone over the age of 18 use a seatbelt while operating or occupying the front seat of a pickup truck in an effort to minimize death and injury sustained in unrestrained pickup crashes.

The current law applies to minors in pickup trucks as well as passenger vehicles and to adults over the age of 17 while in the front seat of cars and sport utility vehicles – but not to pickup trucks.

“The need for an amendment to the current safety belt law is apparent,” said Sen. Thomas, who is a family physician. “In 2005, 233 people were killed in pickup crashes while unrestrained and 369 were seriously injured. Pickups are everywhere now, especially busy highways. This is a safety measure that we all have to address. The law needs to be consistent so lives will be saved and injuries can be reduced and we will be able to receive federal grant money to put towards our further commitment to highway safety.”

The bill has been reviewed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and if passed, the State of Georgia will be eligible for $20.6 million in federal grant incentives from the SAFETEA-LU Transportation Bill.

Harvey Davis, a senior technology management professional in Atlanta, brought the idea to the legislature’s official concern forum, GeorgiaSpeaks.com, where Georgia citizens can post concerns and ideas about the issues they care about for lawmakers to read and review for potential legislation.

“Citizens of Georgia are the greatest resource there is and their ideas have been beneficial to us as we look at new legislation,” said Sen. Thomas. “Mr. Davis believes that the pickup seat belt exemption is outdated and that we can do better. I agree, and we both believe that it is time to change the existing safety belt law to include pickups.

“GeorgiaSpeaks.com gave Mr. Davis the perfect opportunity to share his opinions with lawmakers. This collaboration can really help shape a more positive future for our state.”

Further insight, opinions and commentary on the proposed safety belt amendment for pickup trucks can be found at GeorgiaSpeaks.com under ideas and transportation.

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