When police conducted their spring Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign in recent weeks, nearly a third of those pulled over in traffic stops were cited for either seat belt or child restraint violations. The numbers were released this morning following the two week long enforcement effort across the state.
The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning delivered the preliminary reports which indicate law enforcement officers from 142 local police departments, sheriff offices, and Michigan State Police posts statewide conducted 14,384 traffic stops resulting in 4,364 seat belt and child restraint citations from May 21 through June 3.
Michael Prince heads up the Office of Highway Safety Planning, and he said today, “Thanks to all the law enforcement officers who are working hard to encourage seat belt use across the state.” He adds, “Motorists need to remember to buckle up on every trip, every time, to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries on Michigan roads. Our goal is to save lives, not write tickets.”
In 2017, seat belt use in Michigan was 94-percent, a number slightly higher than the national seat belt use rate of 89.7-percent, according to the statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Buckling up can reduce the risk of serious injury or death by 45-percent.
Over the 2018 Memorial Day holiday weekend, preliminary reports indicate 15 people lost their lives in 11 traffic crashes. Of the 11 deadly crashes, restraints were not used in one and unknown in four.
In addition to issuing seat belt violations, officers during the Click It or Ticket campaign, made 97 drug-related arrests, 64 alcohol-related arrests, and 69 other felony arrests.
The Click or Ticket effort is funded through federal highway safety grants and coordinated by the Office of Highway Safety Planning. Michigan law requires drivers, front seat passengers, and passengers age 15 and younger, in any seating position, to be buckled up. Children must be in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4’9” and children under 4 years old must be in the backseat.
