MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The State Patrol's Bureau of Transportation Safety says a statewide survey last year found seatbelt use around 73 percent last year.

State Patrol Maj. Dan Lonsdorf says the improvement to 79 percent is encouraging, although the state still ranks below the national average of 84 percent.

He credits the improvement to a law last year that allows officers to ticket unbuckled drivers and passengers even if the officer didn't witness another violation.

Lonsdorf says young drivers still need to be educated. He says only about 69 percent of drivers ages 16 to 25 buckle up. Women are also more likely than men to use seatbelts.