Fulton County, OH — As motorists take to the roads this Memorial Day holiday, Fulton County Safe Communities, Fulton County police and sheriff departments are urging everyone to buckle up. Beginning May 20, law enforcement officials will be out in full force, taking part in the 2013 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization and cracking down on motorists who are not belted.
Partnering with our Fulton County schools, a special kick-off event will take place at each county high school on Friday, May 17th. Officers will be checking drivers and passengers as they enter school property and rewarding those that are wearing their seat belts correctly with food coupons donated by local businesses. No citations will be issued for non compliance with the law, but reminders we be given.
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“As we kick-off the busy summer driving season it’s important that everyone buckles up every time they go out, both day and night – no excuses,” said Fulton County Sheriff, Roy Miller. “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing their seat belt – Click It or Ticket.”
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 52 percent of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. As noted, deaths involving seat belt nonuse are more prevalent at night than during the daytime. According to NHTSA, 62 percent of the 10,135 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 during the overnight hours of 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.
Tragically, these national statistics are mirrored locally. Even one death in our county due to not wearing seat belts is too many.
“Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists are still not buckling up, especially at night when the risk of getting in a crash is even greater,” said Rachel Kinsman, Fulton County Safe Communities Chairperson. “We want everyone to have a safe summer, but it requires an important step on the part of motorists – clicking that seat belt.”
In 2011, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide according to NHTSA. While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from May 20 through June 2, officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.
For more on the national Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.
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