Seat belt crackdown

Overall, about 80 percent of U.S. car occupants buckle up. But the 20 percent or so who do not fasten their belts account for almost 60 percent of the crash fatalities. Moreover, while belt use has increased significantly in recent years, it's not high in every part of the country. 

If we want to cut traffic deaths in a big way--by saving hundreds or even thousands of lives per year--then making more people buckle up is one of the few options that's readily available, socially acceptable, and low-cost.

If you are not in the habit of buckling your seatbelt when you drive, be ready for a ticket. In March we attended an annual traffic-safety conference called Lifesavers where hundreds of local, state, and federal safety professionals were passing around advice on how best to crack down on people who just will not buckle up. And they mean business.

Their common strategy is vigorous and visible enforcement of existing safety-belt laws, targeting those types of drivers that typically resist wearing safety belts:

• Young males
• Rural drivers
• Pickup truck owners

In addition, a major national "Click it or Ticket" campaign is scheduled to kick off May 21st.

The bottom line:
If you’re a young, rural guy driving a pickup, look out. The cops are coming to get you. To get you to buckle up, that is.

--Gordon Hard

Comments

[Mike W]

Wow, sounds like profiling to me!

[kris pitts]

I was rear-ended on the freeway at 60 mpg and thank God I was wearing my seat belt! Ya think there is a reason race car drivers wear them?