Troopers put emphasis on seat belt usage

Idaho State Police joined law enforcement partners throughout the state in a recent focus on seat belt education and enforcement. Between July 25 and August 7, ISP Troopers wrote 302 citations to motorists found not wearing a seat belt.

Troopers hope the focused enforcement reminds motorists to take responsibility for their own safety by buckling up.

“Seatbelts are the quickest and easiest way to save a life while driving a motor vehicle,” said Trooper Max Mohr of ISP District 1 in North Idaho.

“Seat belts restrain your body inside the vehicle during a rollover and work in tandem with your vehicle airbags to protect you during impact. I have personally seen the amazing lifesaving effects of wearing a seat belt in several vehicle rollovers. Unfortunately, I have also witnessed several, not so lucky motorists who decided not to take a brief second to click their seat belt. I strongly encourage everyone to buckle their belts to protect themselves and their family.”

Idaho State Police Troopers enforce safety restraint laws every day on Idaho’s roadways. Troopers appreciate the value of multi-agency enforcement efforts that provide additional education and incentive for motorists to shift to safer driving behaviors.

Enforcement of Idaho’s seat belt law is considered a secondary violation as drivers must be stopped for suspicion of violating another law. Still, as emergency responders like Trooper Mohr know very well, the consequences of not wearing seat belts can be devastating to families.

Data on the Value of Seat Belts: In Idaho, seat belt use is lower than the national average, at 85%. According to the Idaho Office of Highway Safety, nearly two-thirds of people killed in motor vehicle crashes are not properly restrained. The majority of those killed are on rural roads.

According to NHTSA, the national use rate for seat belts was 90.7% in 2019. NHTSA data for 2017 shows nearly 15,000 people survived crashes because they chose to buckle up.

For more on Idaho’s education campaign to remind motorists to buckle up, go to https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__shift-2Didaho.org_buckleupidaho_&d=DwICAg&c=V6RwJ6H35feIEOPTfw4cSA&r=4cDmjNm7Si1QAc_PQ5dlmaEdweNiSRhPRjMvfIfR5yw&m=oVF7l4cbOR8Rz_-zjumKaEwvYRUZq9qgX6Hq_KHJ2cs&s=Y2M7bVpBijMiqPPe3dd0x8SdpX8_NG7HSGK_JLcPpJQ&e= .

Funding for extra traffic patrols is provided by a grant from the Idaho Transportation Department Office of Highway Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.