Over 24 days, Howard County Sheriff Department issued 134 citations and made 10 arrests as part of the 2018 Click It or Ticket mobilization.
More than 230 Indiana law-enforcement agencies joined thousands across the nation to enforce seat-belt laws in cars and trucks, for both children and adults, in the front seat and back, both day and night. The\ overtime, high-visibility traffic patrols were supported with federal traffic-safety funds administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).
While many TV shows focus on violent-crime investigations, first responders actually see more traffic crashes. You are more likely to have a property damage crash and be injured or killed in a traffic crash than be a victim of burglary, violent crime or murder, respectively.
“Enforcement of traffic laws intends to prevent the crashes, injuries and deaths that impact our community,” said Sgt. Justin Markley. “With the summer travel season fully underway, police urge motorists to buckle up – every trip, every time – and to use a sober driver.”
Don’t be a statistic
2018 marks 30 years since Indiana’s seat-belt law began, and Indiana has participated in Click It or Ticket for more than 20 years. Since that time, Indiana – along with 34 other states – has enacted a primary seat-belt law, meaning that police can pull you over for being unbuckled.
From 2000 to 2017, the Purdue University Center for Road Safety says that seat-belt usage increased from 62 to 93 percent, beating the most recent national average of 90.1 percent. Indiana has made great progress through stronger laws and highly-visible enforcement, but the small percentage who still don’t buckle up make up nearly half of those killed on our roadways.
In 2016, there were 10,428 unbuckled motorists killed in crashes in the United States. Seat belts were estimated to save an additional 14,668 lives.
Pickup trucks and SUVs feel safer because they are larger and sit higher to the road. But don’t let that lure you into a false sense of security! Motorists in pickup trucks are over-represented in unrestrained injuries and deaths.
ICJI partners with the Indiana University Public Policy Institute to analyze seat-belt statistics. The latest information is at www.in.gov/cji/files/Highway_Safety_Occupant_Protection_2016.pdf. National statistics are at www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts.
Seat-belt tips
What is the best way to reduce your chances of injury or death? Buckle up! Below are tips for proper seatbelt use:
Secure the lap belt across your hips and pelvis, below your stomach.
Place the shoulder belt across the middle of your chest and rib cage, away from your neck.
Never put the shoulder belt behind your back or under an arm.
If your seat belt doesn’t fit you, or you have an older car with lap belts only, ask your dealer or vehicle manufacturer about seat-belt adjusters, extenders or retrofits.
Buckle who you love
Have a friend or family member who doesn’t buckle up? Speak up! One life lost is too many, so don’t leave any of your loved ones behind.
Have friends or family that are men under age 45? They are the majority of those killed, because they don’t take 3 seconds to buckle up.
Don’t just buckle up for yourself, do it for the kids. During a crash, unrestrained passengers can become projectiles that injure or kill others in the car.
In Indiana, unrestrained children under 16 are the driver’s responsibility. Adults set the example, and parents who don’t buckle up are more likely to have unbuckled kids. That means one ticket for you and one for each unrestrained child.
Traffic crashes are the leading killer of children ages 1 to 13. Indiana requires all children age 8 and under to be in an approved car seat or booster seat, but as children get older, they are less likely to remain buckled.
Choose the safest car seat for your child’s height and weight at www.safercar.gov/therightseat. Find a certified car-seat safety technician to assist with installation at www.preventinjury.org/Child-PassengerSafety/Child-Safety-Seat-Inspection-Stations or through the SaferCar app on iTunes or Google Play.