Associated Press

More North Dakota drivers are using seat belts than ever before, officials say.

A survey completed for the state Department of Transportation found that 76.3 percent of North Dakotans buckled up in June, up 8.9 percent from last year and the highest percentage of seat belt use ever in the state. The national rate is 81 percent.

State Transportation Director Dave Sprynczynatyk said Stutsman, Ramsey, Wells and Cass counties all saw seat belt use increase by at least 10 percent.

The rate of seat belt use in Cass County was 82.7 percent, making it the first county in the state to surpass the 80 percent mark, Sprynczynatyk said.

"We believe an enforcement campaign conducted the month before the seat belt (study), along with the year-round education and media, is the reason for these amazing findings," said Robyn Litke, coordinator of the Safe Communities Coalition of the Red River Valley.

Sprynczynatyk credited law enforcement agencies, communities and the media for stressing the importance of buckling up.

However, he said that more than half of the 77 people killed so far this year on the state's roads were not wearing seat belts.

In Fargo, the Police Department said officers are on pace this year to issue 20 percent more seat belt citations than last year.

Col. Bryan Klipfel, commander of the North Dakota Highway Patrol, said he would like to see stiffer seat belt laws. A motorist in North Dakota must be pulled over for another reason to be fined for not buckling up.

"States that go to a primary seat belt law, the percentage of seat belt usage goes up about 11 percent," Klipfel said.