Tax credits for electric cars; Washington ranks among best in seat belt use

(The Associated Press)

Bill: More tax credits for e-car buyers
The federal government would provide grants to help cities build electric vehicle infrastructure and offer new tax credits for buyers of e-cars under legislation introduced last week in Congress. The Senate bill would allow up to 15 municipalities and cities to apply for grants of up to $250 million to build infrastructure such as public recharging stations. The House version offers $800 million to five communities. The Senate would let buyers in those areas to take an additional $2,500 credit for the purchase of an electric vehicle, bringing the total credit to $10,000. The House version gives a credit of up to $2,000 for electric vehicle owners to buy and install charging equipment.

--The Associated Press

(Thinkstock)

State ranks among best in seat belt use
The Transportation Department released its estimate of seat belt use last week, finding that 84 percent of motorists wore their seat belts in 2009, an all-time high. In Washington state, 96.4 percent of people buckle up, the fourth best percentage in the nation. Overall, those least likely to buckle up are teens and young adults, males, nighttime riders, motorists traveling on rural roads and motorists riding in pickup trucks.

--The Associated Press