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Benton police will be watching for seat belt use |
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Thursday, 14 May 2009 |
Benton police will be especially vigilant this month to help ensure the safety of motorists.
Statewide, 525 vehicle occupants died in recent years, and 65 percent of those people reportedly were not wearing seat belts.
Nationwide, 14,464 passengers died in highway crashes during evening and night hours, and 63 percent of those victims were not wearing seat belts, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
These figures are why the Benton Police Department is joining the state and other local law enforcement agencies and highway safety groups in supporting an aggressive “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign.
The initiative will begin Monday and continue through Sunday, May 31. Police will ticket unbelted vehicle occupants.
“Seat belts clearly save lives,” Benton police Sgt. Kevin Russell said. “But, unfortunately, too many folks still need a tough reminder, so we are going to be out in force day and night buckling down on those who are not buckled up.”
Research has shown that fewer people are buckling up at night, when the risk of being in a fatal crash is greatest. That’s why police will be out in force at night as well as during the day to make sure drivers and passengers take seat belts, and seat belt laws, seriously.
Regular seat belt use reportedly is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. When worn correctly, seat belts have been shown to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent, and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans.
While seat belts may be the single most effective piece of safety equipment in a vehicle, NHTSA observational studies show that nearly one out of five Americans still fails to wear a seat belt when driving or riding in a motor vehicle.
The Click It or Ticket campaign is being supported by an $8 million national paid advertising campaign, which, along with additional state advertising to encourage motorists to buckle up, especially at night.
“Wearing your seat belt costs you nothing, but not wearing it will,” Russell said. “So unless you want to risk a ticket, or worse, your life, please remember to buckle up night and day.”
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Razorbacks
