Nationwide, during 2014, more than 14,000 people in passenger vehicles died in crashes while unbelted. About half of these lives could have been saved if they had been wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. As sad as this statistic is, the numbers are even worse at night than during the day, according to the new figures released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For Ohio, in 2013, 879 passenger vehicle occupants died in highway crashes and fully 66 percent of those killed in crashes were not wearing their seat belts.
In Fulton County Ohio, 12 vehicle occupants died during 2013, and of those, 25% were not wearing their seat belts.
That’s why Wauseon Police Department is joining state and local law enforcement agencies and highway safety groups in supporting an aggressive national “Click it or ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign from May 19th through June 1st. Police will be ticketing unbelted vehicle occupants around the clock, day and night.
Consistent 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 Wauseon Police officers will be out in force at night as well as during the day to make sure that drivers and passengers take seat belts and seat belt laws seriously.
Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. When worn correctly, seat belts have been proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent, and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUV’s and minivans.
Seat belts are the single most effective piece of safety equipmnt in a vehicle, yet NHTSA observational studies show that nearly one out of five Americans still fail to wear a seat belt when driving or riding in a motor vehicle.
Stepped-up law enforcement activities will be conducted during the 2014 “Click it or ticket” mobilization period from May 19th through June 1st. The mobilization is being supported by an $8 million national paid advertising campaign, which, along with additional state advertising, will encourage every driver and passenger to buckle up, especially at night.
“Seat belts clearly save lives, but, unfortunately, too many folks still need a tough reminder, so we are going to be out in force day and night in 2014 buckling down on those who are not buckled up.”
Wearing your seat belt costs you nothing, but not wearing it will. So, unless you want to risk a ticket, or worse, your life, please remember to buckle up night and day. Don’t forget, “Click it or ticket” isn’t just a campaign slogan, “It’s a Promise!”
To Support the Police Departments seat belt efforts, Wauseon McDonalds and Tiny’s Dairy Barn have donated coupons to vehicle occupants who are wearing their seat belts.