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TRENTON (CBS/AP) ― Gov. Jon S. Corzine's vow to advocate for seat belt use after being injured in a high-speed car crash has been embraced by safety advocates, and there's hope he will take an equally strong stand against speeding.

Corzine wasn't wearing his seat belt in an April 12 crash along the Garden State Parkway that broke his leg, 11 ribs, collarbone and sternum and put him in a hospital for 18 days. The crash occurred as his state trooper-driven SUV was traveling 91 mph in a 65 mph zone.

Corzine resumed work as governor on Monday as he continues to recover from his injuries, which happened when the SUV was clipped by a pickup truck and slammed into a guard rail.

The 60-year-old Democratic governor has called his failure to wear a seat belt a mistake and has apologized for it, voluntarily paying a $46 fine for violating state law requiring front seat passengers wear a seat belt.

"I'm going to do some things on this seat belt issue," Corzine said earlier this week, though he hasn't elaborated on his specific plans.

Safety advocates hope the multimillionaire governor's promise to advocate for seat belts will make a difference.

"AAA believes that Gov. Corzine has the opportunity to be an advocate unlike any other," said David Weinstein, spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic. "His voice is incredibly potent right now."

Corzine was the only person seriously injured in the crash. His driver, Trooper Robert Rasinski, was wearing a seat belt and suffered minor injuries. Rasinski hasn't responded to numerous requests from The Associated Press for comment.

A state police review board is reviewing the accident, including why Rasinski did not ensure Corzine was buckled and why he was driving at that speed. Earlier, state police said the unit that protects the governor can exceed the speed limit when deemed necessary.


In the United States, 43,443 people were killed on the roads in 2005, including 768 in New Jersey. Of those in New Jersey, 229 weren't buckled.

AAA contends using a seat belt reduces the risk of death by 45 percent and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50 percent for front seat passengers, with about 60 percent of unbelted passengers ejected during a crash resulting in death 75 percent of the time.

An estimated 90 percent of New Jerseyans use a seat belt, the eighth highest rate in the nation in 2006, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The usage rates are based on observational surveys by police and other officials.

Lisa Lewis, executive director of the nonprofit Partnership for Safe Driving, said Corzine should also advocate against speeding and other driving hazards.

"Everyone wants to think that as long as we buckle up, and drive sober, of course, it doesn't much matter what else we do on the roads," Lewis said. "But speeding, talking on cell phones, driving drowsy, these have all become socially accepted behaviors for a large portion of the U.S. population."

New Jersey State Police statistics show speeding was the leading contributor in 73 of 768 traffic fatalities in the state in 2005, the fourth highest total behind only inattentive driving, drunken driving and pedestrian error.

"Data shows excessive speed plays a part in nearly every crash," Weinstein said. "It increases the chance of death or serious injury. It reduces reaction time. Sadly, it's accepted and overlooked. We would welcome the governor's voice on this issue as well."

When it comes to speeding, Corzine has said he didn't pay attention to his driver's speed and the SUV was going as fast as surrounding traffic, but he acknowledged the danger of high-speed driving when discussing his preference for using a helicopter to travel the state.

"Whether you're going 91 miles an hour or you're going 75 miles an hour, you're not only a threat to yourself, you potentially put other people at risk," Corzine said, without making a vow to advocate against high-speed driving.

Weinstein said AAA hopes to meet with Corzine to discuss his plans.

"We certainly hope to have an in-depth conversation with Gov. Corzine about what advocacy roles he'd be comfortable playing," Weinstein said. "That time hasn't arrived yet. Only the governor can dictate when that time arrives."

Corzine has indicated his advocacy won't be high-profile.

He recalled how previous New Jersey governors have been criticized for spotlighting themselves in ads promoting various causes.

James E. McGreevey, governor from 2002 to 2004, for example, was featured in $30 million worth of television and radio ads and mailings promoting tourism, businesses, auto insurance and literacy, ads Republicans claimed were efforts to boost McGreevey's sagging image.

"Maybe it'll be silent," Corzine said of his advocacy, expressing concern people would charge him with "trying to self-aggrandize."

"We'll examine whether there are other things to do," he said.

If he wants, Corzine will be able to involve himself in one state initiative planned even before his accident -- a "Click It or Ticket" campaign slated from May 21 to June 3, during which police around the state will focus on enforcing the seat belt law.

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)