Seat Belt Usage, Sober Driving, and Enforcement

     June 28, 2006

If a person was presented with a situation that included a substantial risk of injury or death, before being involved in such an endeavor, do you think it would be appropriate to consider implementing protective factors to help offset safety risks? I think a person utilizing common sense would most certainly do so.  

     According to risk assessment professionals, predictable is preventable. If we can reasonably predict an occurrence, we can use preventative measures to help reduce our chances of becoming a victim of injury or death in a traffic crash. In the case of traffic crashes, the use of seat belts, child safety seats, and sober drivers are excellent prevention methods helping to greatly reduce personal injuries and deaths. The use of seat belts, child safety seats, and sober drivers are low cost and a very effective prevention measure.   

     A few citizens believe that law enforcement officers could be doing something more important with their time instead of harassing a vehicle operator with traffic violations. They believe a law enforcement officer’s time should be spent preventing murder or other violent criminal activity they perceive as a greater threat to their safety.  

     Based on the following data, what is your opinion? Due to traffic crashes, the huge financial cost to society is about 13.5 times the cost of street level crime and about twice the cost of white collar crime in our nation. Released early in 2006, a preliminary report from the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that 43,200 people died on the nation’s highways in 2005, up from 42,636 in 2004. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations crime report for 2004, there were 16,137 victims of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter in the United States. This information clearly shows the negative impact traffic crashes cause on the resources of our nation.

     When worn correctly, safety belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent – and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and mini-vans. Traffic crash fatalities continue to be a leading cause of death among our teenagers. In approximately 35% of all traffic crash fatalities, driving while intoxicated is a factor.  

     Armed with this data, law enforcement agencies are allocating a huge amount of resources to traffic enforcement. National campaigns are encouraging the use of passenger restraints, sober drivers, and stricter enforcement by law enforcement officers. The message is clear; the motoring public should utilize a simple and inexpensive way to reduce traffic crash injuries and deaths by using passenger restraints and sober drivers.  

Your life is important; obey traffic laws, buckle up and don’t drink and drive.     

Carry Manuel

Chief of Police

Email: cmanuel@mtnhomepolice.com

Phone: 870-425-6336

Fax: 870-425-6092     

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