In all, over 35 Nebraska law enforcement agencies have received $205,000 in grants to fund overtime expenses from the state's Highway Safety Office. Lack of seat belt use is also a major contributor to the severity of injuries in a crash. Nebraska ranks 49th in the country in seat belt usage, according to the Highway Safety Office. Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia have primary seat belt enforcement. Seat belt usage rates are even lower in the nine counties comprising the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department district.
