The highest-ever percentage of buckled drivers and passengers in Kansas was recorded in 2014.
Kansas Transportation Secretary Mike King made the announcement of the increase in the observed seat belt rate today at an event at Kansas Highway Patrol Troop B headquarters in Topeka.
“Eighty-six percent of drivers and front seat passengers were buckled up. That’s a five percentage point increase from the previous year,” said Secretary King.
In 2003, a year after the observed seat belt rate was only 61 percent; Kansas implemented the safety campaign, “Click it. Or ticket.” which combines education and enforcement with the help of Kansas law enforcement agencies.
Speaking on behalf of Kansas law enforcement, Kansas Highway Patrol Colonel Mark Bruce said the future of safety is moving in the right direction.
“This tells us that we are doing something right,” Col. Bruce said. We are seeing progress in the form of more people taking the initiative to protect themselves and buckle up.”
Law enforcement works with the KDOT-sponsored program, the Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office (KTSRO), and uses their high school based education program, Seat belts Are For Everyone, or SAFE, to get the message to new drivers.
The SAFE program began in six high schools in Crawford County. Today it is in 128 schools in 60 counties, and reaches more than 100,000 students, according to KTSRO project director Norraine Wingfield. SAFE is a cooperative effort to highlight the importance of wearing seat belts and decrease risky driving behaviors of teens.
Wingfield said the observed teen rate for seat belt usage has been increasing at a greater rate than any other age group, and counties that have the SAFE program increased the seat belt rate for all ages.
“This shows that when drivers are buckled up, the occupants of the car are buckled up,” Wingfield said.
Secretary King pointed out that today’s announcement was worth celebrating but the national average for seat belt usage is 87%.
“We still have 14% of our state’s population going unbuckled,” Secretary King said. “That’s far too many. We will keep working to educate and enforce Kansas law.
“The message is simple. Seat belts save lives.”
© Many Signals Communications
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Wanted felon arrested in Hiawatha
St. Joseph teacher arrested for student sex crimes
Revised flood predictions along the MO River
Valuation change notices coming soon for Nebraska residents
Lancaster shooting, threats, land man in jail
Four injured in Richardson Co rollover crash
Ozawkie man facing multiple child sex charges
Public health advisory issued for local lake
Case dismissed in charity fraud allegations
Sabetha man arrested on drug charges
4th candidate files for local KS House seat
KHP pursuit ends in Jackson Co
Holton woman killed in Jackson Co car-deer accident
Atchison Police probe car wash thefts
Three injured in Thursday Jeff Co collision
Jeff Co North USD 339 bond issue defeated
Atchison's Amelia fireworks voted 3rd in nation
Atchison Co's Laurie seeks another term as Sheriff
LATEST STORIES
Holton woman killed in Jackson Co car-deer accident
Atchison Co vets to honor comrades Monday
Richardson County Board receives organization updates
Only minor flooding continues along Missouri River
Three injured in Thursday Jeff Co collision
Atchison Police probe car wash thefts
KS DCF provides dollars for youth lunch