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Resolution
Support in Partnership with
the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety A
Primary Seat Belt Law for the State of Arizona
WHEREAS,
the League of United Latin American
Citizens is this nation’s oldest and largest
Latino organization, founded in Corpus Christi,
Texas on February 24, 1929; and
WHEREAS,
LULAC throughout its history has
committed itself to the principal that Latin
Americans have equal access to opportunities in
employment, education, housing, and health care;
and
WHEREAS,
LULAC has supported the principles of
equal opportunities for economic development,
political influence, civil rights, and the
general welfare for all Latinos in the United
States; and
WHEREAS,
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading
cause of death for Latinos ages 1 – 44
WHEREAS,
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading killer of
Latino children between the ages of 0 to 14 and
WHEREAS,
In Arizona in 2001, 62 children died in
Motor Vehicle crashes ans another r6,833
children were injured.
WHEREAS,
Latinos are also less likely to wear a
safety belt. Nationally, in 1983 the seat belt
use rate for all Americans was 14 percent, by
2000 it had increased to 71 percent. But the
last seat belt use rate recorded for Latinos is
63 percent.
WHEREAS,
although Latino male teenagers travel
fewer vehicle miles than their white
counterparts, they are nearly twice as likely to
die in a motor vehicle crash.
WHEREAS,
Anglo Drivers log twice as many Vehicle
Miles Traveled (VMT) as that of their Minority
counterparts,, however, their minority
counterpart accounts for twice as many of the
crashes, injuries, and deaths
WHEREAS,
If a Primary Seat Belt Law was passed in
Arizona an estimated 78 lives per year would be
saved, an estimated 1,470 injuries would be
prevented, an estimated State budget savings
would be $5,232, 800 and an estimated Federal
savings would be $11,462, 300.
WHEREAS,
with the passage of a Primary Seat Belt
Law it could qualify the State of Arizona for
additional Federal Funds. If Arizona implements
a Primary Seat Belt Law, the number of fatal and
serious injuries will decrease and an economic
benefit will result. NHTSA estimates that a
fatality results in an economic loss of about $1
million and a serious injury results in a 1.1
million loss.
THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the 2003 Arizona
State Assembly of the League of United Latin
American Citizens convened in Yuma, Arizona on
May 16 – 18, 2003, join forces with the
Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to lobby the
Arizona State Legislature for passage of a
Primary Seat Belt Law for the State of Arizona
and educate the Latino community on the
importance of using seat belts and care seats
for our children and ourselves. With the
passage of a Primary Seat Belt Law we would join
California, Oregon and Washington in the Far
West Region who currently have the law.
Submitted by Mary
Leonardi, Council #1057, Arizona
Approved this 21st
day of June, 2003.
Hector M. Flores
LULAC National President |
