Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 2, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Jonna VanDyk or Angie Ward, Washington Traffic Safety Commission, 360-753-6197
Glenn Cramer, Washington State Patrol, 360-753-5299

Gov. Locke encourages citizens to buckle up during the July 4 holiday; state’s stepped up seat belt enforcement reduces fatalities 40 percent

OLYMPIA - The state’s stepped up seat belt enforcement has reduced traffic fatalities a dramatic 40 percent since the launch of the new “Click it or Ticket” program - a savings of 26 lives from May 20 to the end of June, according to Gov. Gary Locke.

“We promised to reduce the roadway fatalities with the new primary enforcement seat belt law and the data shows that the new law, coupled with the Click it or Ticket enforcement project, is saving lives as promised,” Locke said. “With the Fourth of July holiday weekend approaching, I encourage citizens to keep up the good work - and keep their seat belts buckled.”

There were an average of 63 traffic deaths from May 20 through June 30 between 1993 and 2001. This year, there were only 37 deaths during that same time period, a reduction of 40 percent, which is directly linked to the combined efforts of the Click it or Ticket program and the state’s new primary seat belt law that went into effect in June. Of the 37 who died, 20 were not wearing seat belts.

“The ‘Click it or Ticket’ message motivated people to get their seat belts buckled and that behavior change is saving lives,” said John Moffat, director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. “During the Fourth of July weekend we are asking people to be especially careful and keep those seat belts buckled. This is expected to be a long weekend with a lot of campers on the roads and very heavy traffic at times.”

The state Traffic Safety Commission and law enforcement community have been working since the late 1960s to get drivers to wear their seat belts. Washington’s seat belt law passed in 1986 when the seat belt use rate was at 35 percent.

Legislation sponsored by Rep. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, passed the Legislature this year that gives police the authority to stop unbuckled drivers, where before they had to stop drivers for some other “primary” offense, then ticket them for being unbuckled. The new law went into effect on June 13. Lovick is a Washington State Patrol trooper.

Prior to the passage of the primary enforcement seat belt law and the Click it or Ticket enforcement project, the state seat belt use rate was at 82 percent, where it had remained for the last six years. The use rate improved to 91 percent by late June.

The Fourth of July Weekend death toll varies, depending on the day of the week that the holiday falls on. On average a four-day Fourth of July holiday weekend will result in 11 deaths on Washington roadways, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

“We know that speeding, tailgating, drinking and driving, and failure-to-yield are some of the problem driving behaviors that result in deaths,” said Washington State Patrol Chief Ronal Serpas. “We know also that buckling a seat belt is the single most important thing people can do to prevent death and injury.”

In addition, a new law became effective July 1 that requires the use of booster seats for children up to age six or 60 pounds.

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Related Links:
- Washington State Legislature
- State Rep. John Lovick
- Washington State Traffic Safety Commission
- Washington State Patrol

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