Bethel Joins
Enforcement Effort

More than 15,000 passenger vehicle occupants died in traffic crashes between the nighttime hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. during 2006, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration—and 64% of those motorists were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crashes.

The proportion of unbuckled deaths at night is considerably higher than the alarming 46% of passenger vehicle occupants who were killed and were not wearing their seat belts during daytime hours across the nation that same year.

That’s why the Town of Bethel announced recently it is joining with state and local law enforcement agencies and highway safety officials from May 19 to June 1 to launch an aggressive national "Click It or Ticket" seat belt enforcement mobilization to increase seat belt use and to reduce highway fatalities—with a new emphasis this year on convincing more motorists to buckle up—day and night.

Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. In 2006, 72% of passenger vehicle occupants involved in fatal crashes, who were buckled up, survived the crashes.

Seat belts clearly save lives. But unfortunately, too many folks still need a tough reminder. That’s why law enforcement will be out in force buckling down on those who are not buckled up. Wearing your seat belt costs you nothing, but not wearing it certainly will. So unless you want to risk a ticket, or worse—your life—please remember to buckle up day and night—"Click It or Ticket."

James Bennett

First Constable

Bethel