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- October 1990
-
-
- POLICE PRACTICES:
- SEAT BELT AWARENESS PROGRAM
-
-
- The use of seat belts is probably the best available
- protection for automobile drivers and passengers from serious
- injury or death due to accidents. State administrators consider
- the use of seat belts so vital to the well-being of citizens that
- most States have mandated the use of these safety devices for all
- front-seat occupants. Yet, voluntary compliance with seat belt
- laws is waning. In fact, during spot checks, police officers in
- South Windsor, Connecticut, observed that only 1 person out of
- every 15 wore a seat belt. The question then raised is, ``What
- can law enforcement do to make the general public aware of the
- seat belt law and then get citizens to comply with it?''
-
- To address the problem, the South Windsor Police Department
- implemented a Seat Belt Awareness Program. This is an
- educational/enforcement program designed to encourage residents
- to use seat belts.
-
- PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
-
- The first hurdle, funding the project, was cleared when the
- Connecticut Safety Belt Coalition granted the necessary monies to
- cover the cost of the program. This non-profit safety group that
- encourages safety belt use also gave the department educational
- information that stressed voluntary compliance with State law.
-
- In addition, a local business joined in this community
- program. It provided the department with free merchandise
- give-aways to encourage seat belt use.
-
- PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
-
- The Seat Belt Awareness Program ran during the month of
- August 1989. During the first 2 weeks, the department issued
- press releases informing residents of the program, why it was
- being implemented, how the program would be conducted, and where
- officers would be stationed.
-
- Starting with the third week, officers conducted
- informational stops. Occupants of vehicles stopped during this
- period, who were not wearing seat belts, were given a verbal
- warning and an information packet. The packet contained printed
- materials that explained how seat belts prevent injury and death
- and how many deaths would be prevented if occupants used seat
- belts. Those found wearing their seat belts received
- merchandise give-aways or coupons for ice cream, which had been
- provided by the safety belt coalition or local businesses.
-
- The final week of the program was enforcement week. During
- this week, officers issued 215 tickets charging drivers with
- failure to wear seat belts, an infraction of Connecticut General
- Statutes 14-100ac. Drivers were fined if they were not wearing
- seat belts; they received another fine if a front-seat passenger
- was not wearing one. If seat belts were worn improperly, only a
- verbal warning was given, and officers advised the occupant on
- how to wear seat belts correctly.
-
- Officers conducted both their informational and enforcement
- stops at the same time and same locations each week.
- Surprisingly, few complained about being issued a ticket, and
- many thanked the officers for reminding them to buckle up.
-
- PROGRAM SUCCESS
-
- The program succeeded in getting the residents of South
- Windsor to wear their seat belts. Officers observed that the
- ratio of persons wearing seat belts after the Safety Belt
- Awareness Program was 14 out of 15. By combining informational
- stops with enforcement, the police department in South Windsor
- brought about ``voluntary compliance'' to the Connecticut Seat
- Belt Law. More important, the police department demonstrated
- concern for the safety of South Windsor residents by encouraging
- them, their family members, and friends to buckle up and prevent
- tragedy.
-
- _______________
-
- Information for this column was submitted by Sgt. Thomas C.
- Hart of the South Windsor, Connecticut, Police Department.