Throughout my time in the Georgia Senate, I have been a devoted supporter of changing the law concerning seat belt use in pick-up trucks. Georgia is one of the only states without a law requiring adults to wear seat belts in pick-up trucks. As a family medical practitioner and a legislator, I am here to tell you we can no longer stand for this and the time to act is now.
I authored Senate Bill 5, which will require adults to wear seat belts in pick-up trucks. While the bill has made it out of the Senate, it is still going through the legislative process in the House. I remain confident in my colleagues on the House side to do what is right and vote yes for this important bill.
After fifty years in the medical field, I have seen, firsthand, the devastating effects of choosing not to wear a seat belt. If you are involved in an accident without a seat belt, you could sustain serious injuries from broken bones to head trauma and even death. In the state of Georgia alone, over 67% of pick-up truck related deaths came from those not wearing a seat belt. It is imperative we do not let this statistic go unnoticed.
While the safety of Georgians is our top priority, there are other challenges created by the lack of seat belt use. By not passing this legislation, state taxpayers are burdened with an additional $17 million in Medicaid costs. Closing the pickup truck loophole will save Georgians $25 million in Medicaid costs over a 10-year period. Additionally, Georgia will become eligible for federal incentive grants from the Traffic Safety Institute once this legislation is passed.
We just returned from a two-week recess to discuss the serious revenue shortfalls. In these times of economic hardship, with the budget being cut at every turn, it would be irresponsible not to support this legislation. Simply put, Senate Bill 5 will not only help save lives on a daily basis but also help alleviate health care costs at the state level. This bill could be a small piece of the puzzle to finding revenue to fill this gap.
I will continue to back this bill along with others that protect and benefit those throughout out our great state. I am proud to serve the 54th district and look forward to working on your behalf for the duration of this session
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Sen. Don Thomas serves as chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. He represents the 54th Senate District, which includes Murray and Whitfield counties and portions of Catoosa and Gordon counties. He may be reached by phone at 404-656-6436 or by e-mail at don.thomas@senate.ga.gov.
COLUMN
For Immediate Release:
March 16, 2010
For Information Contact:
Natalie Strong, Deputy Director
Katie Wright, Communications Associate
katie.wright@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028