The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has supported Colorado State Patrol and 39 local law enforcement agencies for the largest seat belt campaign of the year.
During the 21-day enforcement period which ended on June 1, law enforcement increased patrols and focused on issuing citations to unbuckled drivers as part of the national ‘Click It or Ticket’ effort. Drivers with unbuckled passengers were also ticketed. Last year 1,782 citations were issued, including 74 for unrestrained children.
According to CDOT, 49 unbuckled vehicle occupants have lost their lives on Colorado roads this year, making up 38% of all vehicle occupant fatalities. The organization said the CIOT campaign had been extremely successful in raising seat belt use across the country. The seat belt use rate in Colorado is 88%, up from 79% in 2005.
“For every excuse, there is only one response for why troopers want you to wear a seatbelt,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol.
“No other safety feature in your vehicle is more effective in reducing your risk of dying in a crash than wearing a seat belt.”
