Police urge to ‘click it or ticket’ over holidays

News-Times
News-Times

For the second time this year, the El Dorado Police Department is reminding residents to “Click It or Ticket” in an effort to reduce serious injuries and fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.

The Thanksgiving holiday campaign gets under way today and ends Nov. 25. During the seven-day period, the EPD is joining other law enforcement agencies around the state in a mobilization effort to crack down on unrestrained driving.

Lt. Kenny Hickman, of the EPD, said officers will be on the lookout for motorists who are not using their safety belts and/or child restraints while driving along city streets.

Officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that with more people on the road during the holiday season, Thanksgiving is typically one of the most dangerous and deadliest times of the year for travel on local streets and highways.

During the Thanksgiving holiday period in 2016, 341 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes nationwide between Nov. 23 and 28, according to the most recent statistics released by the NHTSA.

Nearly half of those who were killed were not buckled up.

The NHTSA also cited research showing that lap and shoulder safety belts, when used properly, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers by 45 percent and the risk of moderate to serious injury by 50 percent.

“Whether the trip is across town or across the county, distance makes no difference. Safety belts and child restraints save lives,” Hickman said.

“Unfortunately, too many people need a reminder and that’s why city, county and state law enforcement officers will be working overtime this Thanksgiving with the Click It or Ticket mobilization effort,” he continued.

Throughout the year, the EPD has participated in several, nationwide mobilization campaigns targeting speeding and unrestrained and impaired driving.

The first Click It or Ticket campaign of 2018 centered around Memorial Day weekend.

Hickman said seat belt usage rates in El Dorado have averaged 10 percent below the usage rate for Arkansas within the past several years.

The state rate was 77.7 percent in 2015, which represented an increase from 70.4 percent from 2008.

The increase was attributed to a change in state law that made restraint usage a primary traffic law.

Arkansas law requires that all front seat passengers, not just drivers, be buckled up.

Passengers under 15 years of age must also be properly secured in the vehicle.

A child who is less than 6 and weighs less than 60 pounds shall be restrained in a federally approved child-passenger safety seat. If a driver has a restricted license, all passengers in the vehicle must be properly buckled up.

The maximum fine is $25 for each passenger that is in violation of the state’s safety belt law.

Hickman said El Dorado police will be issuing traffic citations for seat belt violations, adding that the practice of buckling up should be second nature to motorists.

“What we are promoting is a safety habit. We encourage motorists to view seatbelts as part of the ‘start up’ process. Put on the seatbelt before you place the car in drive,” he said. “Develop a habit of doing it every time. That practice may prevent that sinking feeling of seeing blue lights in your rear view mirror. More importantly, it may save your life.”

Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.

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