In an effort to save more lives on Arizona’s roadways this month, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is partnering with Chandler Police and other local law enforcement agencies to increase seatbelt usage throughout the state. The enforcement mobilization will run from May 23 to June 5, 2011.
Although Arizona has a secondary seatbelt law, the enforcement campaign is based upon high visibility traffic enforcement with a “zero-tolerance” approach towards seatbelt and child safety seat usage.
As part of the 2011 National Click It Or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign, Chandler Police and law enforcement agencies across the state will be stepping up traffic enforcement patrols and increasing other enforcement efforts to drive home the message, “Buckle Up Arizona…It’s The Law!”
Despite widespread efforts to educate drivers about the importance of wearing seatbelts, motor vehicle collisions continue to be the leading cause of death and serious injuries to the citizens of our state.
Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. When worn correctly, seat belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants by 45% and by 60% for occupants of pickup trucks, SUV’s and mini vans.
Funding was provided to these agencies by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and is designed to increase and sustain the seatbelt usage throughout Arizona.