Hinsdale Police Enforce Seat Belt Laws for Front and Back Seat

The Hinsdale Police Department is joining hundreds of law enforcement agencies in the statewide “Click It of Ticket” campaign by rigorously enforcing seat belt and child safety seat laws.

From now until Memorial Day, May 26, local police will be paying special attention to back seat passengers in vehicles to ensure that they are wearing their seat belts.

In Illinois, as of Jan. 1, 2014, all drivers and passengers are required to wear seat belts in all positions in the car, not just drivers and front seat passengers.

During statewide observational surveys conducted by IDOT in 2013, the overall usage rate for rear seat occupants was 77.4 percent versus 93.7 percent for drivers and front seat passengers.

In 2012, back seat passengers in Illinois accounted for 46 fatalities and over 5,000 injuries.  Out of those 46 fatalities, 30 of them were not wearing their seat belt.

Last year’s Memorial Day weekend, there were three fatalities and almost 600 injuries on Illinois roadways.  Two of those fatalities were alcohol-related.  Law enforcement officials say wearing your seat belt is your best defense against distracted and impaired drivers.

“The statistics are compelling and demonstrate that seatbelts are effective in reducing serious injuries and preventing fatalities,” Hinsdale Police Chief Bradley Bloom said.  “We participate in these campaigns because we believe that strict enforcement results in safer roadways.”

While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign runs fromthrough May 26, Hinsdale officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.

Visit the “Click It or Ticket” website for more information about the 2014 campaign.