CHP Targets Unbuckled Drivers

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers statewide spent Tuesday focusing their attention on people not buckled up while in a vehicle.

CHP officer and spokesperson, Tom Wills was Wednesday’s KVML Newsmaker of the Day.

"More than 30 percent of all vehicle passengers killed statewide in 2007 and 2008 were not buckled up at the time of collision," Wills said.

Using those same statistics in reverse, that means that nearly two thirds of all fatalities involved those who were buckled up.

Wills responded by saying that is true, however, seat belts alone can make the difference between life and death in accidents such as solo vehicle rollovers.  

Seat belt usage by California motorists is at a record high 95.7 percent. One of the CHP’s primary goals is to raise that number even higher.

In 2008, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) issued 204,187 citations to drivers and passengers who failed to buckle up. In California, the CHP has the right to pull over and ticket drivers, simply for not buckling up.

Wills also reminded drivers that free child safety seat inspections are provided at every CHP office throughout the state. No one will be cited for violations during the child seat inspection.

The "Newsmaker of the Day" can be heard on KVML 1450AM at 6:47, 7:47 and 8:47 each morning.

Written by mark@mlode.com