Kansas Highway Patrol begins stricter enforcement of seat belt laws

You had better “click it or ticket,” because the Kansas Highway Patrol has begun cracking down on seat belt enforcement across the state from now through March 5.

The Kansas Highway Patrol joins other Kansas law enforcement agencies in partnership with the Seat Belts are For Everyone (SAFE) program. Troopers will focus on drivers and passengers specifically around elementary and middle schools.

SAFE is a locally sustained program administered by the students at the high school they attend. The focus is on reducing deaths and injuries on Kansas roadways. Currently in Kansas, 117 high schools from 57 counties participate in the SAFE program.

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According to the 2019 Kansas observational seatbelt survey, children are much more likely to be buckled up if the driver is wearing their seatbelt. If the driver is buckled, about 97% of the children are restrained. If the driver is not buckled, only about 30% of the observed children were buckled. The program encourages adults to model good driving behaviors for children.

“The KHP will be working with local law enforcement partners in an aggressive education and enforcement campaign focused on the importance of seatbelt usage,” Colonel Herman T. Jones, superintendent of Kansas Highway Patrol, said. “Seatbelts have been proven to save lives and prevent injuries. It’s our goal to make sure all citizens of Kansas buckle up in all seating positions.”

For the latest seat belt data in the state of Kansas, go to www.ktsro.org.

–Lee Hartman | Metro Voice

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