Sedona AZ (June 5, 2012) – In an effort to save more lives on Arizona roadways, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has partnered with the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office to increase seat belt usage throughout Arizona.
Arizona has a “secondary” seat belt law which prevents deputies from stopping a driver for the sole offense of not wearing a seat belt so the Yavapai County Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign was based upon high visibility traffic enforcement with a “zero-tolerance” approach towards seat belt and child safety seat non-usage.
Despite widespread efforts to educate drivers about the importance of wearing seat belts, motor vehicle collisions continue as the leading cause of death and serious injuries to Arizonans. As part of the 2012 national Click It or Ticket seat belt use enforcement campaign, police across the state stepped up traffic patrols and increased other enforcement efforts to drive home the safety message “Buckle Up Arizona…It’s the Law!”
The Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization campaign occurred between May 21, 2012 and June 3, 2012. During this two week zero tolerance effort, YCSO deputies wrote fifty-two safety belt violations, two child safety violations, cited three drivers for suspended licenses, two drivers for being uninsured motorists, and issued fifty moving violation citations. One warrant arrest was made during this targeted enforcement.
Compared to the same time period in 2011, both seat belt and moving violation citations increased.
Arizona target areas included Prescott, Skull Valley, Kirkland, Bagdad, Cornville, Verde Villages, and the Village of Oak Creek.
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, SUVs, and minivans.
Funding for this campaign was provided to YCSO and other agencies by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with the goal to increase and sustain seatbelt usage throughout Arizona.
Citizens can contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office with information or questions at 928-771-3260 and or the YCSO website www.ycsoaz.gov.
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