Towson University Police kick off Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization
TUPD reminds campus community to buckle up—day and night
TOWSON, Md. (May 6, 2008)—The Towson University Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies, the Maryland State Highway Administration and other safety advocates in renewing a pledge to save lives through the 2008 Click It or Ticket mobilization. The campaign, which began in Maryland on May 1, intensifies seat belt enforcement among all motorists and around the clock.
Despite Maryland having one of the highest safety belt use rates in the nation at 93.1 percent, it is estimated that more than 90 additional lives could be saved every year if all motorists buckled up on every single trip.
“Although most motorists in Maryland do buckle up, it’s clear that many people still don’t take belt laws seriously,” said TUPD Corporal George Morgan. “So look for us to be out on the streets day and night making sure that everyone is buckled up.”
This year’s Click It or Ticket campaign will emphasize enforcement during nighttime hours—when drivers and occupants are less likely to wear seat belts. In 2006, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 15,046 passenger vehicle occupants were killed between the nighttime hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Nearly two-thirds of those killed at night were not wearing seat belts.
Young people, men in particular, are at greatly increased risk, and are among those least likely to buckle up at night. In fact, the most recent data available shows that roughly 66 percent of Maryland drivers killed not wearing seat belts at night were between the ages of 19–34 years old. In 2006, 73 percent of male passenger vehicle occupants between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts.
“Worn correctly, seat belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury in a crash by 45 percent for front-seat passenger vehicle occupants and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans," Morgan said. "In fact, national data shows that more than three-quarters of passenger vehicle occupants who were in a serious crash in 2006 and were buckled up survived the crash.”
Increased law enforcement activities, including seat belt checkpoints, will be conducted nationwide during the 2008 Click It or Ticket mobilization. Paid national and state advertising will support the effort by promoting the life-saving benefits of regular seat belt use, especially nighttime belt use, to all motorists.
Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce motor vehicle crash fatalities. High-visibility enforcement has been proven effective at getting people to buckle up.
To learn more about the Click It or Ticket campaign and the lifesaving benefits of wearing your seat belt, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.
|
