Buckle up: Safety officials to increase seat belt enforcement

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Be on the lookout for extra police presence on Utah roads these next few days.

From March 22-25, more than 18 law enforcement agencies are working 120 overtime shifts to stop and educate motorists who are not wearing seatbelts, the Utah Department of Public Safety said.

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While DPS noted that seat belt usage has increased from 91.8% in 2022 to 92.4% in 2023, they, along with the Utah Highway Safety Office, are still urging Utahns to wear their seat belts every time they get in the car.

There were reportedly 64 unrestrained fatalities in 2023, more than half of which occurred between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. — when more people tend to not wear their seatbelts, DPS said.

Utah Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Sgt. Cameron Roden said that over the last five years, unrestrained fatalities have accounted for nearly a third of total vehicle occupant roadway deaths in Utah. In 2023, it was 43%, DPS said.

“Seat belts are the single most effective traffic safety device by helping occupants stay in place, avoid becoming projectiles, and help drivers maintain control of the vehicle in the crash,” Roden said. “They save about 15,000 lives a year.”

Not only is it critical to buckle up every time you get in a car, but DPS said it is equally important to wear the seat belt properly.

According to the Highway Safety Office, seat belts should be placed on hips and across the collarbone, away from the neck. It should never be worn behind the back or arm, and passengers should never recline their seats or put their feet on the dashboard.

“Drivers and passengers should wear seat belts, do so properly, and encourage others to do the same. It isn’t just a personal decision; it’s the law,” DPS said.

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