Seat belt laws, bicycle helmet requirements and installing ignition locks in vehicles for convicted drunk drivers gives Hawaii the sixth lowest injury rate in the U.S., according to a new report from the Trust for America’s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Civil Beat’s Nick Grube reports for Capitol Watch:

The study, called The Facts Hurt: A State-By-State Injury Prevention Policy Report, was released Monday. Its rankings are based on laws states have in place to prevent accidents, such as those requiring motorcycle helmets and booster seats children. Other topics include domestic violence prevention and prescription drug monitoring programs.

According to the study, the national rate for injury fatalities in the U.S. is 57.9 per 100,000. In Hawaii that number is 48.3 per 100,000.

The worst state was New Mexico, with a fatality rate of 97.8 per 100,000. New Jersey had the lowest rate at 36.1 per 100,000.

Wonder if there’s anything local politicians can do to make Hawaii even safer.

—Nick Grube