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"  West Rates Highest in Seat Belt Use   More people are using seat belts, The Associated Press reported, citing a new survey conducted in June by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).   According to the survey which monitored belt use at 2,000 sites over a 20-day period seat belt use in the United States was at 79 percent, four percentage points higher than the year before. The highest seat belt usage was in the West, at 84 percent, and the South, at 80 percent. It was lowest in the Midwest, at 75 percent, and the Northeast, at 74 percent.   The survey found that sport utility vehicle and van users have the highest use rates, at 83 percent, while pickup passengers have the lowest rates, at 69 percent.   Additionally, seat belt use was 6 percent higher in the 20 states with mandatory seat belt use laws. The average usage rate in these states was 83 percent.   The usage rate this year is more than five times as much as in 1983, when the NHTSA first began conducting surveys of seat belt use. That year, the seat belt usage rate was 14 percent.   &amp;quot;This is absolutely beyond my wildest expectations,&amp;quot; said Jeffrey Runge, head of the NHTSA, adding that the increase in belt use will save 1,000 lives and prevent 16,000 injuries this year. He also estimated it will save $3.2 billion in health care and other costs.   Side Airbags Found Effective   Side air bags that protect the head, chest and abdomen cut the risk of death in side crashes nearly in half, USA Today reported, citing an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study.   But when the side air bags protect only the torso, not the head, the risk of death is reduced by just 10 percent.   The study was based on actual crashes in 1997-2002 cars.   More than 9,000 people are killed every year in side-impact crashes, the story said.   Hummer: To Russia With Love   General Motors may start to assemble sports utility vehicle at Russia&amp;#039;s Avtotor factory, Reuters reported.   &amp;quot;The cars should be assembled in our Kaliningrad plant, where we already assemble BMWs and KIAs,&amp;quot; Avtotor&amp;#039;s press secretary Pavel Leshakov said at a motor show.   Leshakov could give no more details.   GM Offers Incentives to Move H2s   General Motors is offering dealer incentives on remaining 2003 model year Hummer H2s, the Associated Press reported.   The move is intended to help clear dealer inventories of 2003 models before the 2004s start arriving next month.   Incentives vary between dealers, who can use the money to lower the nearly $50,000 starting price on the H2 or add options, a GM spokesman said.   previously had been selling with few dealer incentives.   Subaru Recalls Some 2004 Legacy and Outback Models   Subaru said it is recalling certain 2004 and models for a possible defect in a fuel hose.   This recall involves a possible fuel leakage due to a loose or out of position clamp on the fuel hose that connects the fuel filler pipe to the fuel tank on approximately 7,800 2004 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles produced between June 3, 2003 and August 8, 2003, the company said in a statement.   This problem was found during vehicle quality testing. There have been no accidents or injuries attributed to this problem.   All potentially affected 2004 model year vehicles that were shipped previous to the identification of this problem will be inspected and, if necessary, repaired at no cost to the owner, the statement said. Notification of owners is expected to begin in late August and be completed in one day. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a9663/west-rates-highest-in-seat-belt-use/>