From Missouri Digital News: https://mdn.org

JEFFERSON CITY - When Kaley Denny of Jefferson City Missouri grasped her cane and slowly approached the table to testify at a legislative committee in favor of a primary seat belt bill, she was keenly aware of the individual missing from the hearing room.

Her friend Alex was unable to take the microphone.

She told a legislative committee Wednesday, Feb. 10., that Alex had passed away at age 17 when he, along with Denny and another friend, were thrown from the vehicle Denny was driving during a collision on a rainy day. None of them were wearing seat belts.

Denny survived the collision, but she suffered partial spinal cord damage. She told the Senate Transportation Committee that she had to teach herself to walk, write, and care for herself again.

She said that though she has faced great personal struggle, the greatest difficulty is knowing that she was responsible for an accident that killed her friend.

"I was driving and somebody died," Denny said. "I have no words to explain what it is like to kill your friend in a car crash. There's not a day that goes by when I don't beat myself up for not making sure that my passengers were buckled up."

Denny testified in support of a bill sponsored by Sen. Jill Schupp, D-St. Louis County, that would implement primary safety belt laws for all individuals riding in motor vehicles.

The bill would make it a requirement for all drivers and passengers to wear a seat-belt while driving.

Maureen Cunningham, the executive director of the Brain Injury Association of Missouri, said enforcement of seat-belt laws could prevent brain injuries and reduce collision fatalities.

"It's about safety," Cunningham said. "It's about safety for everyone on the road. If somebody chooses not to wear a seat belt let them get pulled over and get the fine that is already enacted."

But one committee member expressed doubts that the bill would change driving behavior.

Senator Dave Schatz, R-Franklin County, said that in spite of years of educational programming that informs drivers of the need to wear seat belts, there hasn't been any change.

"It comes down to personal responsibility," Schatz said. "You can't legislate common sense."

Tony Shepherd, legislative officer for Abate for Missouri, said the bill would put an unnecessary inconvenience on truck drivers.

"We keep hearing that seat belts will save your life," Shepherd said. "Seat belts will not save your life, they will help save your life."

Two other measures heard by the committee would extend to adults a current ban for those under the age of 21 from texting while driving.

Doug Horn, an Independence attorney, said that bills prohibiting texting protect passengers who might otherwise become the victim of collisions caused by distracted driving.

"Because of the volume of traffic there's just more distracted drivers on the road," Horn said. "You can't trust the other driver to do the right thing anymore."

Schatz, however, said he was concerned about the ability to enforce the bill.

"I think it's something we'd all agree is appropriate, but how do we enforce it?" Schatz asked. "The fact is I'm not looking for another reason for police or highway patrolmen to pull people over."

Jamie Palermo, a graduate student in Fulton, said the bill makes a statement about the importance of being alert while driving.

Three weeks ago, Palermo flipped her car while texting and driving. She walked away uninjured, but said the incident enforced the importance of attentive driving.

"My mind was everywhere else but on the road," Palermo said. "I was driving but I wasn't driving. I just implore that this is passed as a first step to be wholeheartedly present. If you're driving, drive."

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