Alabama Department of Transportation officials say more than half of the people killed in car crashes last year were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
State officials Monday released a report based on preliminary data from the Alabama State Troopers indicating that 59 percent of people who died in traffic accidents in 2012 were not wearing seatbelts.
Officials say 424 traffic fatality victims were in vehicles where seatbelts were available and 251 were not wearing them at the time of the crash. Officials say a total of 513 people died in crashes investigated by state troopers in 2012.
State law requires front seat passengers and children between six and 15 to wear seatbelts. Children younger than 6 must ride in a federally approved child seat.
