LANSING - The Buckle Up or Pay Up, Click It or Ticket mobilization is coming back stronger than ever.
According to a press release from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, law enforcement agencies in 21 counties will begin conducting safety belt enforcement zones the week of May 15, a week before the statewide campaign begins. The other 34 participating counties will join the campaign from May 22 to June 4, which includes Memorial Day weekend.
The additional week of safety belt enforcement is part of a regional, multi-state project to increase safety belt use in rural communities. In Michigan, rural roads account for 52 percent of unbelted fatal crashes but only 31 percent of the miles driven, according to OHSP. In total, the organization will provide federal traffic safety funds for law enforcement in 55 counties. The state's goal is to reach 95 percent safety belt use, a 2 percent increase from last year's record high of 93 percent.
"The purpose of increasing enforcement is to remind motorists that it is highly likely they will receive a citation if they do not wear their safety belts," said Michael L. Prince, OHSP division director. "By buckling up, drivers and passengers will save their money, and most importantly, their lives."
The combination of strict safety belt enforcement and targeted advertising has consistently proven effective in increasing safety belt use, both nationally and at the state level. After adding five counties to the mobilization last year, safety belt use in Michigan increased from 90.5 percent in 2004 to 92.9 percent in 2005.
This rise in belt use is linked to a decline in fatalities, according to OHSP. The number of traffic deaths in Michigan fell from 1,159 in 2004 to 1,129 in 2005 - a 2.6 percent drop.
"A visible police presence has encouraged motorists to buckle up, and that has helped save lives," Prince said. "Expanding the enforcement helps make sure that everyone gets the message that they need to wear safety belts."
Safety belt enforcement zones are conducted on roadways where crash problems are prevalent or belt use is low. Special portable "safety belt enforcement zone" signs will alert motorists they are entering an enforcement area. One officer will serve as a spotter who will radio information about unbelted motorists to nearby marked patrol cars or motorcycles that will pull over the offending motorists.
The following counties will set up safety belt enforcement zones from May 15 to June 4: Bay, Cheboygan, Clinton, Delta, Dickinson, Eaton, Genesee, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Mackinac, Marquette, Mason, Midland, Ogemaw, Otsego, Roscommon, Shiawassee, and Wexford. These counties average a total of 137 fatal crashes per year.
The other 34 counties receiving funding for safety belt enforcement zones from May 22 to June 4 are: Allegan, Alpena, Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Charlevoix, Chippewa, Emmet, Ionia, Iron, Isabella, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Menominee, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Oakland, Oceana, Ottawa, Saginaw, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw, and Wayne.
Michigan law requires all drivers and front seat passengers to be buckled up and children under the age of four to be in an approved child safety seat. It also requires passengers 15 and younger to be buckled up in all seating positions.
