Amanda Wenn has been making a habit of buckling up every time she rides in a car since she was a child.

The anthropology senior is like many Michigan motorists who are strapping in.

A recent study by the University of Michigan shows overall seat belt use in the state has increased to 83 percent, from 70 percent last March, when the new standard enforcement laws took effect.

“I have known too many people to get into car accidents and been seriously hurt because they didn’t have (a seat belt) on,” she said.

However, some students admit they are not in the habit of always wearing their seat belts.

“Anyone who rides with me wears their seat belt, but sometimes I forget. I have a truck and it is easy to jump in and go,” human resources senior Tom Thesier said.

Some students also say although they fasten their seat belts when driving, they do not when riding as a passenger in a car.

“I just don’t think about when I am not driving,” English senior Nathan Odinga said. “When I am behind the wheel I feel I am more responsible so I should put a seat belt on.”

Some drivers said that the law had no effect on their habits.

“I wore it before that, it didn’t have any effect but I think it is a good idea,” Odinga said of the standard enforcement law.

Michigan’s seat belt law forces drivers, front seat passengers and all passengers under the age of 16 to wear a seat belt. All children under the age of 4 must ride in child restraint seats.

The law allows police to ticket motorists for seat belt violations without having to be stopped for any other offense.

Restraining children was the greatest improvement since the law was enacted in March. The poll showed 81 percent of children were restrained in 2000 compared to 66 percent in 1999. Restraint usage by children under three years old was at 97 percent.

“The increase is due to the primary enforcement of the seat belt law that encourages everyone to buckle up, and programs like (America Buckles Up Children) and other programs and public information/education programs to increase awareness in the need to buckle up,” said Lidia Kostyniuk, an associate research scientist at U-M’s University Transportation Research Institute.

The 13 percent overall increase has been encouraging to Anne Readett, spokeswoman for the Office of Highway Safety Planning.

“We are very happy seat belt use has increased, it follows what we thought would happen, but our overall goal is to reach 90 percent of motorist wearing their seat belts,” Readett said.

The law and “Click It or Ticket,” the office’s public awareness program, are now being considered a model for other states to follow.

“We think (the program) has been very successful,” Readett said. “Nationally, traffic safety advocates encourage people to look at Michigan if they pass a standard enforcement law,”

Law enforcement agencies also have noticed the law’s effect.

“It seems that more people are buckling up their seat belts and their children’s, and the U of M study confirms that,” State Police Sgt. Dan Davis said.

Michigan Police issued 3,226 tickets in August for mandatory restraint violations for drivers and passengers unbuckled in the front seats. In August 1999, 3,915 tickets were issued, Davis said.

“In August of 1999 compared to the August of 2000, we have issued fewer seat belt tickets. I think this means that people are buckling up,” he said.

East Lansing police issued 526 tickets for seat belt violations in 2000 compared to 474 in 1999, East Lansing Capt. Juli Liebler said.

The department was one of several organizations in the area that received a state grant to help enforce the new seat belt laws.

“We are certainty pleased to see the increase of people wearing their safety belts, they prevent injuries in accidents especially in children,” Liebler said.