State Reminds Motorists to Buckle Up Day AND Night
DENVER – The Colorado State Patrol and law enforcement agencies in 11 counties are joining the Click It or Ticket campaign to save lives by increasing seat belt use, particularly at night. Ramped up traffic enforcement will take place between the hours of 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. from July 21 – 27 in the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Mesa, Pueblo and Weld.
Nighttime enforcement is a priority for the Click It or Ticket campaign, because nighttime passenger vehicle occupants are among those least likely to buckle up and most likely to die in crashes when unrestrained. Last year in Colorado, 142 drivers and passengers were killed in crashes between the hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. Of that number, 65% were not wearing seat belts, compared to 42% of victims not buckled up during the day.
“Nighttime is not the time to let your guard down by forgetting to buckle up,” said Col. James Wolfinbarger, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Our troopers will be out in force during the evenings to conduct extra traffic enforcement with the goal of saving lives. If you are pulled over and not buckled up, expect a ticket.”
Most of the people killed in crashes in Colorado at night are young men. Males made up 74% of the unrestrained nighttime fatalities in 2010, and 65% of them were ages 16 to 34.
There is also a strong connection between alcohol-related fatal crashes and the lack of seat belt use. Last year, 70% of the alcohol-related fatalities at night involved drivers and passengers who were not buckled up.
“Seat belts are your best defense against a drunk driver, so take two seconds to click your seat belt to protect yourself,” added Col. Wolfinbarger.
The Colorado State Patrol and the following agencies are receiving federal grants from Colorado Department of Transportation to conduct the nighttime Click It or Ticket mobilization:
Adams County: Adams County SO, Commerce City PD, Northglenn PD, Westminster PD
Arapahoe County: Arapahoe County SO, Aurora PD, Englewood PD, Greenwood Village PD
Boulder County: Boulder PD, Longmont PD, Lafayette PD
Denver County: Denver PD, Auraria Campus PD
Douglas County: Castle Rock PD, Lone Tree PD, Parker PD
El Paso County: El Paso County SO, Calhan PD, Manitou Springs PD, Colorado Springs PD
Jefferson County: Edgewater PD, Jefferson County SO, Golden PD, Lakewood PD, Arvada PD, Wheat Ridge PD, Lakeside PD
Larimer County: Larimer County SO, Fort Collins PD, Estes Park PD
Mesa County: Grand Junction PD, Mesa County SO
Pueblo County: Pueblo County SO, Pueblo PD
Weld County: Ault PD, Frederick PD, Fort Lupton PD, Gilcrest PD, Platteville PD, Evans PD, Firestone PD
Last year during the nighttime Click It or Ticket, more than 2,698 seat belt violations were issued. Following this enforcement period, agencies will report their seat belt citation data online. You can view this by visiting www.SeatBeltsColorado.com. Then click on Seat Belt Enforcement Reporting on the Quick Links
