By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

A new survey shows rear seatbelt usage is still lagging behind front seat occupants, even though the state’s mandatory seat belt law’s addition of backseat passengers has been in effect for three years.

The survey was done in Chicago, Cook County, Upstate Illinois and Downstate Illinois, with downstate showing the highest percentage of seatbelt users when considering drivers, front seat passengers, back seat adult passengers and back seat child passengers.

Illinois Department of Transportation Director of Traffic Safety Jared Thornley said vehicle miles and fatalities on Illinois Roads are up in recent months and urges seat belt use, as many of those injuries and deaths are preventable.

For more information, visit idot.illionis.gov.