San Diego

Twenty-six people have died in 22 car accidents on San Diego city streets since Jan. 1, according to a study compiled by the San Diego Police Department.

Of those deaths, 21 of the victims were not wearing seat belts, the recently released study showed.

Since January, the Police Department has issued 16,387 citations to people who were not using the devices, spokesman Bill Robinson said.

“For the same period in 1988, 12 of the 16 traffic fatalities were not wearing seat belts, so it’s increasing,” Robinson said. “People obviously know the law and know that seat belts help save lives, but it’s inexplicable why people are not using the devices.”

The study also showed that nine of the accidents were alcohol-related. Of the 19 pedestrian deaths, eight were also alcohol-related.

Two of the five motorcycle deaths to date were alcohol-related, and two of the three bicycle deaths occurred while the cyclist was riding under the influence of alcohol, the study said.