The Wyoming Department of Transportation has announced their cooperation with area law enforcement, for a national seat-belt awareness campaign.
This national seat belt campaign began May 21 and runs through June 3, and in Natrona County, motorists can expect even more effort over the holiday weekend.
“Buckling up is a simple a task, one that can keep you and your family safe in the event of a crash,” said Sergeant Jeff Bullard of the Casper Police Department.
“But it’s more than that. Buckling up is the law. Our law enforcement officers see the costs of not buckling up. We see the tragic loss of life which could’ve been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt. If the tickets and citations awaken people to the dangers of unrestrained driving, we’ll consider it a success.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says nearly 48 percent of the passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2016 were unrestrained. At night, that number soared to 56 percent of those killed. That’s why one focus of the “Click It or Ticket” campaign is nighttime enforcement.
Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night.
“In Natrona County in 2016, 3 out of the 4 passenger vehicle fatalities did not buckle up, and in 2015, it was 12 out of 16. That’s 75 percent of our fatalities not buckling up,” said Bullard.
Nationwide, almost twice as many males were killed in crashes as compared to females, with lower belt use rates, too. Of the males killed in crashes in 2016, 52 percent were unrestrained. For females killed in crashes, 40 percent were not buckled up.
“If you know someone who doesn’t buckle up when they drive or ride, please ask them to consider changing their habits,” said Bullard. “Help us spread this life-saving message before one more friend or family member is killed as a result of this senseless inaction. Seat belts save lives, and everyone, front seat and back; child and adult, needs to remember to buckle up: every trip, every time.”
Along with this enhanced enforcement effort, the Wyoming Highway Patrol is urging drivers to help keep Wyoming’s roadways safe by calling the Report Every Drunk Driver Immediately, or “REDDI,” hotline number (800) 442-9090 to report suspected drunk drivers. Callers should be prepared to provide the dispatcher with a description of the vehicle, its location, and direction of travel.
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