Seat Belt Enforcement Zones Raise Usage Rate

Project Characteristics Program Areas Outstanding collaborative effort High media visibility Occupant Protection Police Traffic Services Targeted Audience Jurisdiction General Population Community/County

Goals

• Combine public awareness initiatives and enforcement efforts
• Utilize multi-agency personnel from participating law enforcement agencies
• Operate on a zero tolerance policy for violations
• Inform residents about current seat belt usage rates using metal signs posted at various locations

Strategies

Coalition members from Marion County committed their efforts to developing an initiative to increase seat belt use among the motoring public. In their efforts they developed Seat Belt Enforcement Zones. The Seat Belt Enforcement Zones were not designed to function as checkpoints. Rather, law enforcement officers are positioned in the median or street at specified locations for a period of 2 to 4 hours throughout the county, and flag over motorists they observe not wearing their seat belts. Variable message and portable signs advise motorist that they are traveling through an enforcement zone. Zones are located along heavily traveled roadways which routinely experience high crash and low seat belt use rates.

Results

• 17 Seat Belt Enforcement Zones were conducted through out the county and 1,113 seat belt citations were given during this period. This represents an average of five seat belt citations per officer for each hour of enforcement zone operation.
• Overall seat belt use increased an average of 7 percent at enforcement zone locations during this six-month interval.
• Passenger car seat belt use rose from 67%to 72%
• Truck driver seat belt use increased from 37% to 49%