The Arkansas State Police and local law enforcement
agencies are targeting safety belt traffic enforcement operations in an
attempt to reduce the number of nighttime fatal motor vehicle crashes.
According to an analysis of crash reports from all Arkansas law
enforcement agencies, 303 traffic crash deaths occurred during calendar
year 2006 between the hours of 6 PM and 5:59 AM. The analysis also
indicates that 82 percent of the passenger vehicle occupants killed were
not wearing safety belts.
According to Colonel Winford E. Phillips, Director of the Arkansas
State Police and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative, the
proportion of deaths among motor vehicle occupants who were not wearing
safety belts is 24 percentage points higher in nighttime crashes than
daytime crashes.
“That’s why the Arkansas State Police and local police and sheriff’s
offices across the state are uniting today to launch an aggressive
“Click It or Ticket – Day & Night” safety belt enforcement
mobilization,” Colonel Phillips said.
The goal of the two-week campaign is to increase safety belt use and
reduce highway fatalities.
“Research shows that there is a problem with drivers and passengers
not buckling up at night when the risk of a fatal crash is greatest.
Clearly this is an indication that these individuals are not taking the
law seriously and that’s why we’ll be out in force making sure that all
passengers, in all vehicles, are buckled up – day and night,” Colonel
Phillips said during a news conference today at State Police
Headquarters.
Regular safety belt use is the single most effective way to protect
people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. When worn
correctly, safety belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury
to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and by as much as 60
percent in pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans. Still nearly one-third of
Arkansans fail to regularly wear their safety belts when driving or
riding in motor vehicles.
According to state law, drivers who are stopped by law enforcement
officers for a moving or equipment violation can also be ticketed if the
officer observes a safety belt violation. Drivers who do not properly
restrain children under the age of 15 can be stopped at any time and
ticketed for the violation.
Stepped-up law enforcement activities will be conducted during the
Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization, which is being supported by
an aggressive paid advertising campaign that will include television and
radio spots as well as billboards.
“Safety belts clearly save lives, but unfortunately, too many people
still need a tough reminder. So we’re going to be out in force buckling
down on those who are not buckled up,” Colonel Phillips said. “Wearing
your safety belt costs you nothing, but not wearing it can cost you
everything. Unless you want to risk a ticket, or worse, your life;
please remember to buckle up day and night.”
For more information log onto the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov or call the Arkansas
Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136.
