Archived News Stories
State Safety Belt Use Hits Record High
A record-setting number of Michigan motorists are buckling up following
a two-week Buckle Up or Pay Up, Click It or Ticket statewide safety belt
mobilization. A recent statewide observation survey conducted by Wayne
State University found nearly 93 percent of motorists were buckled up.
The safety belt mobilization, which ran May 23 through June 5, included
a record number of safety belt enforcement zones in the majority of the
state’s
counties. Although enforcement was increased, the number of reported safety
belt citations fell from the same period a year ago.
“This is indeed encouraging news because more motorists than ever
are using the most important safety device in their vehicle, the safety
belt,” said
Colonel Tadarial J. Sturdivant, director of the Michigan State Police. “Safety
belts help to protect a vital Michigan resource – our families, our
friends, and our neighbors.”
The official figure, 92.9 percent, was
derived from trained observers who measure safety belt use from locations
throughout the state. More specific
survey
information will be available at a later date.
Michigan set a record last
year when safety belt use reached 90.5 percent following the Labor Day
holiday, making it one of only six states with
a safety belt
use at or above 90 percent. This year’s safety belt enforcement
strategy was tweaked to include five additional counties to reflect summer
tourist and
travel patterns.
In addition, a special flight of ads developed specifically
for out state areas and funded through federal dollars ran in select
media markets
prior to the
enforcement activity.
Strict traffic enforcement will continue throughout
the summer with local safety belt and drunk driving enforcement. Summer
traffic safety
enforcement
will
conclude with a statewide drunk driving crackdown that coincides
with the Labor Day weekend.
Article reprinted from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning
Safety Network Summer 2005 newsletter.
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