May 22, 2000
Contact: Anne Readett @ (517) 333-5317

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Just as many traffic safety advocates predicted, safety belt use in Michigan has jumped dramatically after the new law took effect, to a record-breaking 83.5 percent in March. The safety belt use rate was determined by a direct observation survey conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, on behalf of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP).

On the heels of that news, hundreds of Michigan law enforcement agencies are uniting for the statewide Click it or Ticket enforcement campaign, May 22-29, centered on the Memorial Day holiday. This will be the first concerted enforcement effort since the new law took effect March 10.

Click it or Ticket enforcement campaign comes at the same time as the national America Buckles Children effort, which promotes properly restraining children of all ages.

Michigan’s new standard enforcement safety belt law allows law enforcement officers to stop motorists who are not properly buckled up.

"Michigan drivers are buckling up in unprecedented numbers," said Governor Engler. "They are getting the message that safety belts save lives. I am encouraged that as we head into the first major summer holiday, we will see fewer traffic deaths due to motorists not wearing safety belts."

"Education efforts are most successful when teamed with enforcement," said Col. Michael D. Robinson, director of the Michigan State Police. "Be warned now, that if you don’t click it, we will ticket. There is zero tolerance for unbuckled children."

More than 300 Michigan law enforcement agencies are participating in this effort, including the Michigan State Police, every Sheriff department in the state and many other local police agencies.

The next official safety belt observation survey will be taken in September to continue to track the state’s progress toward improving its safety belt use rate.