As a state senator my most important duty is to represent my constituents as part of a broader responsibility to support policy that improves the lives of all Georgians. It is human nature that sometimes a legislator’s personal opinion conflicts with the public’s best interest. In such cases, personal opinion must be set aside.

Case in point: Georgia’s Safety Belt law currently excludes pickup trucks. And although 92.8 percent of Georgians support repealing this exemption, legislative leadership in Georgia’s House of Representatives has never allowed even a hearing on the safety belt bill for the past three years. The Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill in 2007 and again on February 12 of this year. The current version of the bill even includes an exemption for agricultural use, so that farmers using their trucks in their work won’t be penalized.

Georgia is the only state in the nation with a safety belt law that excludes pickup trucks, yet pickups represent 21 percent of all registered passenger vehicles in the state. Closing this loophole will increase safety belt use among pickup truck occupants by 10.4 percentage points, saving at least 20 lives and preventing 411 serious injuries each year. In 2006, 67.6 percent of pickup truck fatalities were unrestrained versus 41.6 percent of those in other passenger vehicles - a difference of over 25 percentage points.

Looking forward, the state will lose out on millions in federal funds for 2009 and pay at least $17.6 million in additional taxpayer-subsidized Medicaid expenses over the next ten years on top of millions more in trauma care costs. Hospital costs are approximately 50 percent lower for belted crash victims compared with those who did not buckle up.

The costs in terms of lives and money have continued to escalate every year that the General Assembly has failed to act. Just recently, three members of a Warner Robins family died after a tragic crash in Hawkinsville. A 76-year-old man was driving a 2005 extended cab Dodge Dakota pickup on Ga. 247 in the rain when he lost control, left the road and hit a tree. The man, his wife and 20-year old grandson all lost their lives. None were wearing safety belts.

Protecting the lives of our citizens is the foremost responsibility we have as elected officials. Indeed, our Constitution states clearly: “The protection of person and property is the paramount duty of government ….” It’s time to live up to our constitutional duty to our citizens. It’s time for the leadership in Georgia’s House to let democracy work by permitting a hearing for the safety belt bill in committee and allowing the full House to vote. There are many good reasons why Georgia should close the pickup truck loophole in the safety belt law. It’s time for a vote!

Readers may contact Sen. Don Thomas by phone at (404) 656-6436 or by e-mail at don.thomas@senate.ga.gov.