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Seat belt use in CNMI up 3.8 percent in 2009
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Posted on May 08 2009
Seat belt use in the CNMI dramatically increased by 3.8 percent in the first half of this fiscal year, according to the Department of Public Safety.
From an 86-percent usage rate by travelers on CNMI roadways in 2008, the rate went up to 89.8 percent during the last six months of this fiscal year, according to separate surveys conducted in those periods.
CNMI law strongly supports the use of safety belts.
Just last Tuesday, May 5, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial signed a proclamation designating May 18-31 as “CNMI Click It Or Ticket Mobilization.”
In line with this, Fitial is urging all residents and visitors to buckle up and buckle up their children when driving or riding on roadways.
The proclamation stressed the importance of the safety and security of all citizens and visitors to Saipan and its surrounding areas.
“Increasing regular use of safety belts is the single most effective way to protect people, reduce fatalities and injuries and lives,” the proclamation states.
Nearly one of five Americans fails to regularly wear seat belts. About 14,464 passenger vehicle occupants died in crashes between the hours of 6pm and 5:59am according to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
NHTSA reported that about 63 percent were not wearing seat belts, compared to 45 percent of unbelted daytime occupants from 6am to 5:59pm.
The study also revealed that in 2007 alone, the proper use of seat belts saved an estimated 15,147 lives and an additional 5,024 lives could have been saved if seat belts were worn at the time of the crash.
In connection with the Click It or Ticket mobilization period, CNMI law enforcement officers on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian will participate in mobilizing efforts to ensure all motor vehicle occupants strictly comply with the law by buckling up day and night.
DPS said this would reduce the risk of injury and death caused by traffic crashes as well as increase the enforcement of seat belt laws.
It said the proclamation signing would help the campaign because “publicity has been proven to be an effective method to increase seat belt use rates and decrease fatal crashes.”
