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East Hartford Police Department Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 12, 2009
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East Hartford Police Kicks Off Click It or Ticket Enforcement Mobilization Extended Hours to Focus on ALL Unbuckled Motorists – Day and Night.
East Hartford, CT. East Hartford Police Department announced today they are joining with hundreds of other law enforcement agencies across the country in renewing a pledge to save lives by intensifying efforts to enforce seat belt laws among all motorists and around the clock during the 2009 Click It or Ticket mobilization, which runs from November 16 – November 29, 2009.
In 2006, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 15,046 passenger vehicle occupants were killed between the nighttime hours of 6:00 pm and 5:59 am. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of those killed at night were not wearing seat belts, compared to less than half (46%) of the passenger vehicle occupants killed during daytime hours.
Along with nighttime motorists, men, particularly young men are among those less likely to buckle up. 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.
In fact, all young people are greatly increased risk. Sixty-four percent of teenage passenger vehicle occupants killed in fatal rashes during 2006 were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crashes. And the 2006 observed seat belt usage rate of those 16-24 was lower than any other age group.
“With 18 percent of all Americans failing to buckle up regularly, it’s clear that far too many people still don’t take seat belt laws seriously,” Lt. Gerald Tomkiel said. Among some groups, especially young men, the unbuckled rate is especially high and the fatal crash rate increases significantly at night. So look for us to be out on the streets day and night through November making sure that everyone is buckled.” Lt. Gerald Tomkiel said, “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 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans. In fact, data shows that more the three-quarters (77%) 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 2009 Click It or Ticket mobilization. Paid national advertising, as well as State advertising, will support the mobilization 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. And high-visibility enforcement is effective at getting people to buckle up,” said Lt. Gerald Tomkiel. “Wearing your seat belt is easy and it costs you nothing. Not wearing it might cost you a ticket, or worse, your life. I urge everyone in East Hartford to please be safe and buckle up day and night – Click It or
Ticket.”
To learn more about the Click It or Ticket campaign and the lifesaving benefits of wearing your seat belt, please visit, www.nhtsa.gov.
Officer Hugo Benettieri
Public Information Officer
East Hartford Police Department
31 School Street
East Hartford, CT. 06108
860-291-7551
Fax: 860-289-1249
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