News
Governor Rell: Connecticut seat belt use at an all-time high
By Governor Rell's office
Aug 24, 2008 - 10:52:41 PM

Governor M. Jodi Rell announced this week that the State of Connecticut has attained a statewide seat belt usage rate of an all-time high of 88 percent. The most recent survey conducted in June 2008, directly after the eleventh and most recent “Click it or Ticket” Campaign, showed an almost 3 percent increase in usage. The State’s first seat belt seat belt survey was conducted in 1995, and at that time the usage rate was 59.2 percent.

“Eleven years later, with the help of state and local police, we have increased our seat belt usage rate almost 30 percent, which is remarkable,” said Governor Rell. “Regular safety belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.”

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic safety Administration (NHTSA) show that adult lap and shoulder safety belts, when worn correctly, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent – and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and mini-vans. However, nearly one in five Americans (19 percent nationally) still fail to regularly wear their seat belts when driving or riding in a motor vehicle, according to NHTSA.

Connecticut is consistent with the national average in that nearly one in five people still fail to regularly wear their safety belts when driving or riding in a motor vehicle.

“From May 12 through June 1, 2008, we joined with state and local law enforcement and highway safety officials across the country to launch an aggressive national ‘Click It or Ticket’ seat belt enforcement mobilization,” said Governor Rell. “The goal was to reduce highway fatalities – with a new emphasis this year on convincing more motorists to buckle up day and night.”

During previous Click It or Ticket campaigns, the majority of checkpoints were set up during daylight hours. This year, seat belt enforcement checkpoints were conducted all hours of the day and night.

“Everyone traveling in a motor vehicle should always wear their safety belt. Children should always use a height and weight appropriate child safety seat and should ride in the back seat, as this seating position is the safest for them,” said H. James Boice, the Governor Highway Safety Representative. “Unless you want to risk a ticket, or worse – your life – you need to always remember to ‘Click It or Ticket,’ every time, every trip.”

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