Saturday, May 27, 2000
Police focus on seat-belt use
Program aims to enforce child safety
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FRANKFORT — Kentucky State Police will step up patrols over the holiday weekend and join thousands of law enforcement agencies nationwide in Operation ABC Mobilization: America Buckles Up Children.
It's a program that declares zero tolerance for drivers with unbuckled children.
Operation ABC got under way May 22 and will continue through Memorial Day. Kentucky State Police officers will focus attention on drivers who have unrestrained or improperly restrained children in their vehicles.
In Kentucky, all children 40 inches or less in height must be buckled in a child safety seat. Children over 40 inches must wear a seat belt. Police officials say the back seat is the safest place for children, especially in vehicles equipped with air bags. Child safety seats, when properly installed, reduce the risk of death by 69 percent for infants and 47 percent for toddlers.
The good news, officials say, is that Kentucky's seat-belt usage rate in 1999 was 59 percent, up from 54 percent in 1998, and child passenger safety seat usage in 1999 was up 89 percent, up from 80 percent in 1998.
Last year, 11 people died in 10 crashes over the Memorial Day weekend. Six of the victims and five of the fatal crashes involved alcohol and only four of the 11 victims were wearing seat belts.
Citizens can help law enforcement officers by reporting suspected impaired drivers by calling 1-800-222-5555.
All that needs to be reported is the direction of travel, a description of the vehicle and a license plate number.
The official Memorial Day holiday period will run from 6 p.m. Friday to midnight Monday.
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