Motorists’ Seatbelt Usage Rate Hits 95 Percent

Following a recent seatbelt enforcement campaign, a police survey indicated that 95 percent of motorists driving in town were wearing their seatbelts, reflecting the highest seatbelt usage rate ever recorded locally.

Administrative Sergeant Christopher Vanghele said that before police began the “Click It or Ticket” enforcement project, a police survey indicated that 92 percent of motorists had been wearing seatbelts.

From May 18 to May 31, town police participated in the nationwide seatbelt enforcement project intended to get motorists to wear seatbelts to reduce serious injuries and fatalities in motor vehicle accidents.

During the two-week enforcement period, police increased their patrols, took part in a five-town regional seatbelt enforcement effort, participated in specialized DUI patrols, and held seatbelt checkpoints, the sergeant said.

During that period, police issued 96 infractions and gave 15 warnings for failure to wear a seatbelt. They made two drunken driving arrests and issued 18 infractions and 58 warnings for speeding. Also, they issued 71 infractions and gave out 105 warnings for miscellaneous motor vehicle violations. Police issued 12 infractions on charges of possession of alcohol by minors.

As part of the seatbelt enforcement project, police from Newtown, Brookfield, Bethel, Ridgefield, and Redding joined forces. The team spent one day in each of the five towns on seatbelt checkpoint duty.

That group, aided by additional Newtown officers, worked in Sandy Hook on May 18 on Route 34 (Berkshire Road) at its intersection with Lone Oak Meadow Road and Johnny Appleseed Drive.

On that day, that enforcement team issued 22 seatbelt infractions, ten cellphone infractions, and four infractions for automotive glass tinting violations, according to Sgt Vanghele. Those enforcement actions are part of the overall enforcement statistics.

Police plan another seatbelt enforcement project in November.