Enforcement Of Seat Belt Use Day And Night
LABELLE, FL. -- Hendry County Sheriff Steve Whidden and members his department are joining forces with hundreds of other law enforcement agencies across Florida in renewing a pledge to save lives by cracking down on motorists who drive without wearing seat belts and properly restraining children.
A seat belt usage survey conducted at three major intersections in Hendry County indicated a seat belt usage of 45%; less than 50% percent of drivers and their passenger's utilized safety belts.
Law enforcement officers will not only be targeting major roadways but also school zones ticketing drivers and passengers, including children under 18, who are not buckled up. The statewide campaign runs March 1 thru March 15, 2010.
According to 2008 data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 2,938 individuals were either drivers or passengers in safety belt equipped vehicles. Sixty percent (1,085) of these people killed were not wearing safety belt. In addition to that, 54 of the 79 children ages 0 – 17 years old, killed in traffic crashes were either not using safety belts or restrained in child restraint device.
'''With 30 percent of traffic fatalities due to Floridians failing to buckle up regularly, it's clear that far too many people still don't take the safety belt law seriously,'' Hendry County Sheriff Steve Whidden said. ''The unbuckled rate is especially high – and the fatal crash rate increases significantly at night. So look for us to be out on streets both day and night in March making sure that everyone is buckled up.''
Sheriff Whidden said, "Wearing your seat belt is easy and it costs you nothing. Not wearing it might cost you a ticket, or worse – your life. I urge everyone in Hendry County to please be safe and buckle up day and night –Click It or Ticket It."
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