BENTON — Motorists who refuse to wear their seat belts - beware. The 2012 national Click It or Ticket seatbelt-enforcement mobilization is now in force to help save lives by cracking down on those who don’t buckle up.
The Benton Police Department has joined other state and local law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates across the country to save more lives by strongly enforcing seat-belt laws around the clock.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010 nationally, 61 percent of the 10,647 passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes overnight, 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crash, compared to 42 percent during the daytime hours.
“Too many drivers and passengers on the road at night are not wearing their seat belts, and it all too often ends in tragedy,” Lt. Curtis Wood said. “Our goal is to save more lives, so the Benton Police Department will be out enforcing seatbelt laws around the clock.”
In Arkansas, 129 unrestrained passenger-vehicle occupants were killed at night, compared to 118 who were unrestrained and killed during daytime crashes.
NHTSA statistics show that in 2010 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives nationwide, yet too many motorists may need a tough reminder. In 2010, 22,187 passenger-vehicle occupants were killed in motor vehicle crashes, according to the NHTSA, and 51 percent of them were not wearing seat belts at the time of their fatal crashes.
Younger motorists and men are particularly at risk. NHTSA data shows that among teen and young-adult passenger-vehicle occupants in 2010, ages 18-34, who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes, 62 percent were not buckled up at the time of the crash - the highest percentage of any age group. The number jumps to 66 percent when just men in this age group are included.
While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs through June 3, motorists should know that officers are out enforcing seat-belt laws year-round.
“Those who choose not to wear a seat belt will feel the heat from our officers, who will be out cracking down on Click It or Ticket violators. Motorists should buckle up every time they go out, both day and night,” Chief Kirk Lane said. “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone not buckled up … no warnings and no excuses. Click It or Ticket.”
For more on the national Click It or Ticket mobilization, visit www.nhtsa.gov.
Tri-Lakes, Pages 135 on 05/27/2012