Jessica Houland, 17, buckles up before leaving the Lawrence High School parking lot on Thursday. The Kansas Senate has passed SB 211, which would make it a primary violation for someone age 14 to 18 to not wear a seat belt. The bill faces opposition in the Kansas House of Representatives.

When Daniel Green gets behind the wheel of a car, he knows the drill: He’s supposed to buckle up.

“My mom and dad are always telling me to wear a seat belt,” the Lawrence High School senior said. “But I kind of get in the habit not to.”

However, the teenager said if he knew he had to wear it or a police officer could pull him over and give him a hefty fine, he wouldn’t be so lax.

The Kansas Senate knows this, too.

On a 30-10 vote, the Senate approved a bill, SB 211, that would make failing to wear a seat belt a primary offense for drivers and passengers ages 14 through 17 in Kansas, punishable with a $60 fine.

Under the bill, which now goes to the Kansas House, law enforcement officers could stop young drivers solely because they don’t look like they’re buckled up.

The bill is one of two passed by the Senate last week that would affect teen drivers. A second bill, a graduated driver’s license bill, also was approved by the Senate, but the vote was closer, 23-17, and it’s not expected to get as much enthusiasm in the House.

In it, students wouldn’t be able to have full driving privileges until they reach age 18. They could get a learner’s permit at age 15 and a restricted license at age 16.

Seat belts more likely

Of the two bills, the seat belt legislation probably has the best chance of being approved this year, said Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence, who is a member of the House Transportation Committee.

However, Sloan said he personally favors keeping young drivers in training longer.

“Young people have quicker reactions than I do, given my age, but the experience I have makes me less likely to be in an accident,” he said.

However, Sloan said the graduated license bill is hard to sell to some lawmakers because it has only been a few years since the Legislature passed restrictions for young drivers.

In contrast, data is available showing that seat belt use saves lives, Sloan said.

Drivers under age 18 represent about 7 percent of the state’s drivers, but are involved in 13 percent of the state’s fatal accidents, according to Sen. Les Donovan, R-Wichita, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee.

“We kill many, many teenagers a year in the state of Kansas. And 85 percent of those killed are not wearing seat belts,” Donovan said. “If that’s not a statistic to cause someone to vote for this, I don’t know what else you could tell them. I really don’t.”

Donovan also said that of the two bills, the seat belt law might be more likely to make it to the governor’s desk.

“Two years ago, it got within eight votes of passing in the House,” he said. “I’m hopeful from talking to the House Transportation chairman that the votes are over there to pass it.”

The governor would like a bill to pass that would mandate seat belt use for all drivers and passengers. But Donovan said the political climate isn’t right this year for it to pass.

“We obviously don’t have the votes. We never have in the past, not even close,” Donovan said.

Getting support

Jeannie Robinson, president of Free State High School’s site council, said she supports the legislation.

“I would promote more restrictive teenage driving laws as opposed to less restrictive ones. I think the seat belt law would be a good one,” she said.

Several students at FSHS also thought there was merit in making failure to use a seat belt a primary offense.

“It will make people safer,” said Lauren Rhoades, 17, a junior, who says she wears a seat belt.

Nicholas Bradburn, 17, a senior at FSHS, said he also buckles up.

“It’s probably a good idea, though, because I’m pretty sure you learn the most or retain the most at our age,” he said.

Ali Jacobsen, a FSHS sophomore, said she didn’t see how an officer could tell if a person was wearing a seat belt from a distance.

“I think it’s a good idea, actually, because a lot of people who do get in accidents, they get injured because they’re not wearing seat belts,” she said. “Sometimes a seat belt could like save you from going through a front windshield.”

Personal decision

Some Lawrence students disagreed.

“I can understand wearing a seat belt, but I don’t think you should be pulled over for not having a seat belt on,” said Tony Williams, an LHS senior. “It’s hard to tell if someone is wearing a seat belt or not when they’re driving.”

Sylvia Yimer, another senior, also didn’t like the law.

“I think that wearing a seat belt is a personal decision,” Yimer said. “And I don’t think they should fine you for not wearing one.”

Yimer, who is 18, said if the bill does become law, age shouldn’t even be a factor whether you’re wearing a seat belt or not.

“No single life is more important than another,” she said. “So if it is enforced, it should be enforced for everyone, not just that age group.”