NEWS RELEASE

Nocturnal Seat Belt Patrols Back in Action on May 19 - Nighttime enforcement may be a factor in lowering Washington's Vehicle Fatality Rate

This is a sample of localized news releases distributed statewide - customized by location.

May 5, 2008

King County, WA – Following the success of the first year of the nighttime Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement patrols during May and October 2007, law enforcement officers will again take to the streets at night between May 19 and June 1, 2008. The extra patrols are funded by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC).

A recent analysis by the WTSC shows that the Click It or Ticket campaign may be helping to reduce fatalities on Washington roads. During 2007, both daytime and nighttime vehicle occupant fatalities were lower compared to the previous ten years. According to preliminary numbers, nighttime vehicle occupant deaths were 13% lower during 2007 (216 deaths vs. the 247 average for the previous ten years) and daytime vehicle occupant deaths were down 21% (194 deaths during 2007 vs. the 245 average for the previous ten years).

"We have a number of projects underway that are designed to reduce the number of traffic deaths on our roadways. We are evaluating their effectiveness and early results indicate that the nighttime seat belt patrols are producing positive outcomes," said Steve Lind, Traffic Safety Commission Acting Director.

Statewide, there will be 46 law enforcement agencies participating in the nighttime seat belt enforcement project. This includes ten agencies in King County, including the Bellevue, Black Diamond, Burien, Issaquah, Kent, Maple Valley, Sea-Tac, Shoreline and Woodinville Police Departments as well as the Washington State Patrol.  The local Community Traffic Safety Task Force Coordinators in the Kent Police Department and Public Health Seattle & King County have been instrumental in organizing local patrols for this effort.
 
During the most recent Nighttime Seatbelt emphasis in October 2007, law enforcement officers statewide made 7,524 contacts with motorists and intercepted a large number of high-risk drivers, who are more likely to be involved in fatal or serious injury collisions, including:

• 3,769 seatbelt and car seat violations
• 72 drunk driver arrests
• 89 drug arrests, including 11 for drug impaired driving

• 57 reckless and aggressive driving violations
• 64 felons arrested and taken to jail and another 110 criminal arrests
• 4 stolen cars were recovered
• 282 motorists had no valid driver license
• 478 motorists had no insurance
  

Comparatively, during the inaugural May 2007 campaign, law enforcement officers cited 4,671 unbuckled drivers and passengers statewide.

“The Click It or Ticket seat belt patrols were directed to take place after 7:00 pm because the death rate is four times higher at night than it is during the day,” Lind said.

When used correctly, seat belts reduce the risk of injury and death by about 70%, according to local and national research.*

This May, the patrols will be conducted in the same manner as before, involving both an observational officer and patrol vehicles. When an unbuckled motorist is spotted, the observing officer radios ahead to the patrol vehicle to make the stop.

Washington’s seat belt law passed in 1986, and at that time only 36 percent of motorists buckled up. Washington’s primary seat belt law (which gives law enforcement the authority to pull over unbuckled motorists) became effective in June 2002, at which time seat belt use in the state hovered at 83 percent. The Click It or Ticket campaign was adopted in 2002 and since its inception seat belt use has risen to 96.4 percent, making Washington’s seat belt use one of the highest in the nation.

* Seat belts reduce the risk of serious injury by 69% according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and reduce the risk of death by 70% according to the Harborview Injury Research and Prevention Center.