Small Town News

Seatbelt emphasis slated for coming weeks

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Motorists can expect to see an increased law enforcement presence patrolling city and county roadways in search of unbuckled or improperly buckled drivers and passengers between May 23 and June 5.

The Shelton Police Department, the Mason County Sheriff's Office and the Washington State Patrol will be participating in these extra patrols, with the support of the Mason County Target Zero Traffic Safety Task Force.

"Law enforcement officers would rather have motorists buckle up than write a seat belt infraction," said Lowell Porter, Director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. "The evidence is clear that seat belts save lives. By increasing seat belt use, Washington continues to reduce the costs incurred by those who don't buckle up."

The cost of a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt, the best defense in saving a driver and passenger's life, is $124.

Statistical analysis shows that wearing a seat belt decreases the chance of dying or being seriously injured in a collision by about 70 percent, compared to an unbuckled motorist. Medical costs from vehicle collisions amount to more than $276 million each year in this state and vast sums of money have been saved by getting motorists to buckle up.

"Law enforcement

officers would rather

have motorists

buckle up than

write a seat belt

infraction."



Copyright 2011 Shelton-Mason County Journal, Shelton, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 Shelton-Mason County Journal Shelton, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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