News release - Idaho State Police emphasizing seat belt law compliance

News release - Idaho State Police emphasizing seat belt law compliance
For immediate release, May 18, 2018

Contacts:
ISP District 1, based in Coeur d'Alene: Captain Kempf, (208) 209-8621
ISP District 2, based in Lewiston: Lt. Oswald, (208) 799-5151
ISP District 3, based in Meridian: Cpl. Acheson, (208) 884-7360 or (208) 884-7550
ISP District 4, based in Jerome: Lt. Rausch, (208) 324-6011
ISP District 5, based in Pocatello: Lt. Winans, (208)239-9811 or cell (208) 241-5633
ISP District 6, based in Idaho Falls: Captain Davis, (208) 525-7377

The annual Border to Border (B2B) initiative commences Monday, May 21 and Idaho State Police will be emphasizing seat belt use for that entire week. B2B is a national campaign and uses the catch phrase "Click It or Ticket." Nationally, state highway patrol offices and their law enforcement partners will coordinate highly visible seat belt law enforcement and they will provide seat belt fact sheets for drivers at highly traveled, highly visible state border locations.

"It's proven that we achieve more when state and local law enforcement agencies work together to achieve seat belt law compliance," said Lt. Col. Sheldon Kelley, ISP deputy director. "It doesn't mean we want to write more tickets but it does mean we want to save more lives."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half of the passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2016 were unrestrained. During this year's campaign, NHTSA is urging law enforcement agencies to issue seat belt citations to anyone caught in violation of the law, day or night. This is a special consideration for nighttime driving, when 56 percent of those killed are unrestrained.

Nationally, the seat belt use rate is currently 90.1 percent, according to NHTSA's 2016 data. That's up from 88.5% in 2015 but that means 9.9% - or some 32 million people - are still not buckling up. Idaho State Police Troopers know the lives of many Idahoans could be saved if they'd simply buckle up.

For more info on the B2B initiative or Click It or Ticket mobilization, go to www.nhtsa.gov/ciot

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