“Seat Belt Convincer” Introduced at Soap Lake Police Department

Insurance companies in North Central Washington are teaming up with the state and police to convince the public to wear seat belts.

Central Basin Target Zero introduced the Seat Belt Convincer at the Soap Lake Police Department Monday.

The machine simulates the force a person would experience in a 5-10 mile per hour crash.

It was purchased though a $30,000 grant from State Farm Insurance and is being promoted by Target Zero, which is part of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

State Farms agaents were joined in unveiling the Seat Belt Convincer by Soap Lake Police Department Chief Ryan Cox, Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones, Sheriff Motor Traffic Alex Deputy Judkins, Grant County Commissioner Danny Stone, and Washington State Patrol Trooper Bryant.

Washington state has a 94 percent seat belt use rate.