State gets fed money for seat belt use

The state of Vermont's Click It or Ticket seat belt campaign is paying off in more ways than traffic safety.

The state is receiving $3.7 million from the federal government as a bonus for transportation and public safety programs.

During the latest seat belt campaign 87.3 percent of motorists were wearing their seat belts.

Gov. Jim Douglas says it's the highest rate of seat belt use ever documented in Vermont.

It was the second consecutive year Vermont exceeded the 85 percent threshold, making the state eligible for the incentive.

Before the Click It or Ticket campaigns began in 2002 Vermont's seat belt rate was 67.4 percent.

The state can use the extra money for any highway safety project it wants.