More than 93 percent of Marylanders — an all-time high — used a seat belt this year, according to state highway officials.
About 7,200 more Marylanders used a seat belt in 2008 compared with 2007 for a rate of 93.3 percent, up slightly from the previous year.
Seat belt use data is collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the latest data was collected in June.
Officials conducted visual checks at more than 100 sites in the state.
Drivers and front-seat passengers were buckled up more than 94 percent of the time, and pickup truck drivers had a usage rate of about 88 percent, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration Rates for pickup truck drivers fell slightly from 2007, despite targeted efforts to encourage use among truck drivers, officials said.
Seat belts are the best way for drivers to protect themselves from an injury or death in a crash, state highway officials said.
Lead found in children’s jewelry
A children’s necklace and bracelet sold at a Party City in Baltimore were found to have excess amounts of lead, according to the Baltimore City Health Department.
A smiley face charm on the “What’s Your Mood” necklace contained 18,100 parts per million of lead, and part of a “Best Friends” bracelet contained 1,920 ppm of lead, health officials said.
Health officials issued a violation notice to Party City, at 6311 York Road, prohibiting the sale of the products. Items with more than 600 ppm of lead are banned. Anyone who purchased the necklace or bracelet should return it to the store.
This is the sixth straight month health officials have found children’s jewelry with more than 600 ppm of lead being sold in the city, health officials said.
Lead is a neurotoxin that can cause severe illness, cognitive impairment, and even death at high doses.
The health department tested eight items of children’s jewelry in September, and these two were the only products with unacceptable lead levels.
