SUBJECT: Click it Don't Risk IT

Date: May 12, 2006

One Hundred twenty-six! That is the number of people, seven years of age and older, who died in Idaho car accidents last year and were not wearing seatbelts. The number of those critically injured and not restrained was 452.

The Idaho Department of Transportation (ITD) and Idaho law enforcement agencies are reminding people that buckling up is the best defense against serious injury or death for drivers and their passengers. Data from the National Highway Safety Administration shows that half of the people killed and injured in car crashes would have been saved if they had been wearing their seat belts.

The Post Falls Police Department will be joining enforcement efforts with ITD and several local law enforcement agencies from May 22^nd – June 4^th, 2006 in an attempt to get Idahoans to buckle up. The purpose of May’s heightened seat belt awareness campaign and enforcement of the seat belt law is to increase seat belt usage in Idaho . Current usage rate is 76 percent which makes Idaho one of the lowest states in the country for seat belt usage. The City of Post Falls just recently conducted a seat belt survey and found a rate of 86 percent usage. We are proud of that, but would strive to be closer to 100 percent.

Idaho law requires everyone in a vehicle to be properly restrained no matter where they are seated. Fines for breaking Idaho ’s safety restraint laws range from $10-$69. Increasing patrol s to enforce the laws are aimed at saving lives and reducing the costs associated with traffic crashes.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Sgt. Pat Knight

AUTHOR: Sgt. Pat Knight