With Memorial Day marking the unofficial start of summer travel, the EPD is preparing to step up
patrols to crack down on seatbelt usage. From May 17 through May 31, the EPD will join police officers across
the state to participate in a national campaign to promote safe driving habits including seat belt usage. This
high-visibility enforcement campaign is part of a nationwide effort funded by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).
“If the enforcement effort alerts people to the dangers of unrestrained driving, we’ll consider our
mission to be a success,” said Sgt. Nick Winsett. “We are asking friends and family to remind each other to
buckle up when they drive, and to consider changing their habits if they don’t.” Indiana continues to see strong
compliance with its seat belt laws. ICJI’s latest observational survey found that 93.6% of Indiana drivers wear
their seatbelts. While this is encouraging, there is still work to be done to reach the remaining 6.4% of drivers
who put themselves at risk.
To reinforce the message, state traffic safety leaders are reminding people why the laws exist in the first
place. “Seat belts are one of the simplest, most effective ways to protect yourself on the road,” said Jim Bryan,
Traffic Safety Director for ICJI. “Putting on a seat belt takes just a few seconds but can make all the difference
in the event of a crash. If you’re not buckled up, you are taking a dangerous risk.” Research consistently shows
that seat belts can reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash by up to 65%. Without one, people are at a higher
risk of being ejected from a vehicle, which can lead to fatal outcomes.
