Law enforcement in Colorado will use May 11th through May 31st to issue citations to drivers not wearing seatbelts. Out of the 308 people killed during car accidents in Colorado last year, 156 were not wearing seatbelts. Police officers are looking for ways to help enforce a law that could save lives.
Seatbelt use in Colorado has remained at around 81 to 82 percent for the last five years. Department of Transportation officials want to move this number closer to the national average at 87 percent, arguing that seatbelts reduce serious injuries and deaths from auto accidents by 50 percent.
Seatbelt rates are below the national average because Colorado is what is known as a “secondary law” state, which means that adult drivers can be ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt if they are stopped for other violations. Primary seatbelt laws mean that drivers can be ticked solely for not buckling up.
All drivers and passengers under the age of 18 are required to wear a seatbelt. The minimum fine for not wearing a seatbelt in Colorado is $65.
Can Colorado’s Campaign Reduce Car Accidents?
The effort to protect motorists is part of Colorado’s safe driving campaign, Moving Towards Zero Deaths. As the name implies, the Colorado Department of Transportation has pursued policies that may greatly reduce the number of fatal car accidents. Attempts to increase seatbelt use will coincide with other safety initiatives that will try to reduce distracted driving accidents.
This is not the first time Colorado law enforcement has ticketed motorists for not wearing seatbelts. More than 8,000 Colorado motorists were ticketed during a similar seatbelt safety campaign last year.
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