Ohio State Highway Patrol Reminds Motorists to Buckle Up
ZANESVILLE, OH – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is participating in The 6 State Trooper Project, which runs from November 9th through the 16th and focuses on seat belt safety.
Last year 58% of those killed in traffic accidents were not wearing available safety belts. In Ohio alone, since 2015 2,611 people were killed in crashes due to not wearing a seat belt.
“So with crashes, any time that there is a seat belt that’s not being used that adds the potential for injury or death. In Ohio there’s been thousands of lives that have been lost because people weren’t wearing their seat belts. And we just remind motorists that they need to be wearing them. Ohio’s usage rate is over 85%, but we just want to make sure that you know we keep getting that higher and higher until we get to 100% compliance,” Trooper Brice Nihiser said.
When it comes to seat belt citations, it is a secondary violation, meaning you have to be pulled over first for another violation. A citation could be issued for non-compliance or for failing to wear the seat belt properly.
“Part of seat belt safety is making sure that you’re wearing your seat belt correctly. We just remind motorists that that shoulder belt has to be going across your body, you have to have the lap belt intact and that’s what’s going to prevent you from getting injured in a crash. If you don’t have either of those things being worn when you’re stopped you can receive a citation for it.”
Troopers want to remind motorists that safety is a shared responsibility between passengers and the driver. Everyone should be buckling up every trip.
