Officers preparing for traffic, seatbelt 
enforcement blitz

During the National “Click It or Ticket” campaign, set for May 18-31, Iowa law enforcement officers will take the fight to the night in an attempt to save lives as officers — including those from the Newton and Prairie City police departments — ticket unbelted vehicle occupants around the clock.

During 2007, more than 14,000 people in passenger vehicles nationwide died in crashes while not wearing seatbelts. About half of these lives could have been saved if they had been wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. The statistics are even more revealing when broken down by time of day, according to new figures released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Nationwide in 2007, 14,464 passenger vehicle occupants died in highway crashes during evening and night-time hours (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.). Sixty-three percent of those killed (8,319) were not wearing their seatbelts. By contrast, during daylight hours, 45 percent (5,917) of those killed were not wearing seatbelts.

In Iowa, there were 412 motor vehicle fatalities in 2008 and of those, 139 were not wearing their seatbelts. Fifty percent of Iowa’s crashes that resulted in death occurred at night when only 12 percent of the motoring public was on the roadway. These numbers are staggering and the data is showing that there are more high risk drivers at night, according to the NHTSA. These drivers are far more likely to speed, drink and not wear their seatbelts.

“Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes,” said Eugene T. Meyer, commissioner for the Iowa Department of Public Safety. “Wearing your seatbelt costs you nothing, but not wearing it could cost you your life. So unless you want to risk a ticket or worse, 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!”

For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov/link/ciot.htm.