Safety advocates push for primary seatbelt law in Arizona

PHOENIX - A new report from the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety shows a drastic increase in highway deaths in 2012.

It highlights seatbelt use as one important action to save lives.

The report calls highway deaths the leading health epidemic in the nation.

Last year more than 32,000 people died in highway accidents.

The report states more than half of those victims were not wearing seat belts

In Arizona 825 people died last year in highway accidents, an 8 percent increase from the year before.

The report estimates 97 of those victims could have saved their lives by wearing seat belts.

Advocates for Highway and Auto safety calls for more highway laws, including a primary seat belt law.

A primary seatbelt laws means an officer can pull folks over solely because they're not buckled up.

Currently only 32 states have the law and Arizona is not one of them.