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As the second round of "Click It or Ticket" enforcement of seatbelt laws in Connecticut approaches this year, the Greenwich Police Department will be out in force.
"Starting Monday, expect to see huge increase in awareness and enforcement of seatbelt laws as well as checkpoints set up around Greenwich," said Sgt. John Slusarz of the department's traffic section.
A campaign started by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, Click It or Ticket will run for the second time this year from Nov. 8 to Nov. 21. Connecticut has one of the highest seatbelt usage rates in the country 83 percent of drivers and passengers use their seatbelts, which Slusarz credits to enforcement and awareness.
However, according to the NHTSA, 25,351 motor vehicle occupants not wearing seatbelts were killed in crashes in 2008. Nighttime is the most dangerous: Of the 12,671 passenger vehicle occupants who died in motor vehicle crashes between the hours of 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. in 2008, nearly 64 percent were not strapped in.
At 70 percent, the most car passengers killed in traffic crashes are ages 13 to 15. The second highest, at 66 percent, are passengers ages 25 to 34. Other high rates include men at 66 percent as well as 70 percent of pickup drivers and passengers.
"Seatbelts keep you attached to the car and in control," said Slusarz. "If you are knocked away during even the most minor accident, you lose that control and are far more likely to be involved in a secondary crash."
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