|
Trenton
– New Jersey’s seat belt usage
rate increased for the 12th consecutive
year in 2008 to a record 91.75 percent,
according to Division of Highway Traffic
Safety Director Pam Fischer.
Determined
through an observational survey conducted
by the New Jersey Institute of Technology
immediately following the State’s
two week “Click It or Ticket”
seat belt mobilization effort in May, the
rate reflects an increase of more than a
quarter percent over last year’s usage
rate of 91.36 percent.
Following
this year’s campaign, two counties
experienced the largest increase in seat
belt use from 2007 to 2008: Monmouth, up
5.2 percent to 93.35 percent, and Camden,
up 4.1 percent to 91.84 percent. In addition,
Middlesex County had the highest overall
usage rate in 2008, at 94.53 percent.
“We’re
pleased to again see an increase in the
State’s seat belt usage rate,”
Fischer said. “That rise of nearly
a half-percent means that 34,000 more New
Jerseyeans are buckling up. This 0.39 percent
jump will prevent one fatality, 16 serious
injuries, and $3.5 million in crash- related
economic costs annually in New Jersey. While
the rate is among the strongest in the nation,
it’s imperative that we don’t
rest on our laurels, but continue to focus
on educating motorists and their passengers
about the life-saving value of buckling
up.”
This
year, 473, or 95 percent, of the State’s
police agencies participated in the “Click
It or Ticket” campaign, which ran
from May 19 to June 1. As a result of the
initiative, 46,026 seat belt citations were
issued, down from 58,170 last year. During
the two-week initiative, police agencies
also issued 1,007 citations for improper
use of child restraints, 6,831 for speeding,
2,598 for driving with a suspended license,
449 for reckless driving, and 1,345 tickets
to uninsured drivers. In addition, 642 individuals
were arrested for drunk driving and 684
for drug-related charges.
Officials
also called today for the passage of legislation
that will close the back seat loophole in
New Jersey’s current seat belt law.
Currently, those over the age of 18 who
are seated in the back seat of a motor vehicle
do not have to buckle-up. (New Jersey’s
primary seat belt law applies to the driver,
all front seat passengers and passengers
under 18 years of age regardless of seating
position. In addition, when the driver holds
a Graduated Drivers License all passengers,
regardless of age and seating position,
must buckle-up.) Legislation that would
require belt use in all seating positions
regardless of age has passed the Assembly
(A-870) and is currently awaiting action
by the Senate (S-18). Governor Corzine has
indicated that he will sign this legislation.
According
to a recent driver behavior survey conducted
by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s
PublicMind poll, 54 percent of motorists
reported always buckling up in the rear
seat, while 1 in 7 say they never do. Between
2003 and 2007, 235 unbelted back seat passengers
have lost their lives on New Jersey roadways.
“By
closing this loophole in the current seat
belt law, we can ensure that all motor vehicle
occupants are protected against potentially
fatal injuries,” Fischer added. “Seat
belt use, whether you’re riding in
the front seat or back, is the most effective
and simplest way to protect yourself in
the event of a crash. Had those 235 back
seat passengers worn seat belts, as many
as 176 might be alive today.”
A
complete listing of individual county seat
belt use and town-by-town citation statistics
is available on the division’s web
site at, www.njsaferoads.com.
# # #
|
