05-20-08 Boise Police Seatbelt Campaign
Boise May 20th, 2008 - Boise Police Officers have one of the largest grants ever received by the department for special patrols focused on safety: seat belt use.
Boise Police received a $20,000 grant from the Idaho Office of Highway Safety, with the goal of keeping more Idahoans safe this summer! The grant will pay for officer overtime to focus on the special seat belt patrols. Boise Police are joining others throughout the state for a special education and enforcement campaign May 19 - June 1 targeting seat belt use. Statistics show injuries and deaths from traffic accidents are reduced when motorists where seat belts.
In Boise, motorists maintain the highest seat belt used rates in the state at 93% seat belt use. The state average is 78.5% compliance. Officers say the higher seat belt use rate in Boise is the result of enforcement efforts within the city by Officers who write more seat belt citations than any other law enforcement agency in Idaho. Sadly, say officers, seat belt use appears to drop when special patrols end.
"The majority of drivers in Boise understand that its about safety. However, when we see a drop in enforcement we also see a drop in compliance, so staying on top of the issue is important to everyone." says Boise Police Motor Officer Kyle Wills.