POLITICAL RISK ASSESSMENT, FROM AN ELECTED SAFETY BELT LAW ADVOCATE'S POINT OF VIEW AND EXPERIENCE.

VOTERS OF MICHIGAN HAVE ELECTED SECRETARY AUSTIN, PROMINENT SAFETY BELT LAW ADVOCATE, TO FOUR SUCCESSIVE FOUR YEAR TERMS, BY SUBSTANTIAL MARGINS. HE IS NOW THE LONGEST SERVING BLACK STATEWIDE OFFICIAL IN THE USA. MICHIGAN'S SECRETARY OF STATE, IN ADDITION TO BEING THE STATE'S OFFICIAL RECORD KEEPER AND ELECTIONS SUPERVISOR, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION AND DRIVER LICENSING. HE SERVES AS CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE'S TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION. IN HIS FIRST CAMPAIGN FOR ELECTION IN 1970, AUSTIN INCLUDED IN HIS TRAFFIC SAFETY PROGRAMME A PROPOSAL FOR SAFETY BELT LEGISLATION, AS THE BEST WAY TO ENCOURAGE USAGE. HIS OPPONENT WAS OPPOSED. IN EACH OF THREE CAMPAIGNS FOR RE-ELECTION AND AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY, AUSTIN URGED USAGE AND ADVOCATED MANDATORY SAFETY BELT LEGISLATION. MICHIGAN ENACTED A SAFETY BELT LAW IN 1985, CULMINATING A 14-YEAR STRUGGLE FOR AUSTIN. IN THIS ARTICLE HE SHARES SOME OF HIS EXPERIENCE AND VIEWS.