As the unofficial start of summer approaches, police are preparing to step up patrols and crack down on seatbelt violations. WNIN’s John Gibson has more:
The Evansville Police Department says it will take part in a national campaign to promote safe driving habits starting May 17 through the Memorial Day weekend.
The EPD calls it a “high-visibility enforcement campaign” funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
Sgt. Nick Winsett says the department is asking friends and family to remind each other to buckle up when they drive, and change their habits if they don’t.
Winsett notes a recent survey found that more than 93-percent of Indiana drivers wear their seatbelts.
He calls it encouraging, but says there’s still work to be done to reach the remaining more than six-percent of drivers who put themselves at risk.
Research consistently shows that seat belts can reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash by up to 65-percent.