WCPD / Patrol Division
WCPD is participating in a special statewide enforcement campaign to ensure that motorists are using their seat belts. It's really this simple: seat belts save lives and everyone in a vehicle should wear one.
In 1984, New York State became the first state to enact a mandatory seat belt law. New York's seat belt law is a "primary enforcement law". This means that a police officer may stop you for not having a seat belt on.
A statewide seat belt observational survey conducted in June 2019 shows that the current seat belt use rate is at a historical high of 94%. Despite these gains in usage, roughly 33% of the front-seat occupants killed on New York State roadways are unrestrained. When unbelted back seat occupants killed are included, the total unrestrained killed percentage rises to approximately 37%.
Increasing seat belt and child safety seat use is the most effective way to reduce crash-related injuries and fatalities. Buckle Up New York, Click It Or Ticket, is a statewide, zero-tolerance enforcement effort coordinated by the State Police, County and local agencies, and the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee to increase safety restraint use in New York State.
State law mandates the following:
All motor vehicle passengers aged 16 and older must be restrained by a seat belt.
Backseat passengers in a taxi or livery who are 16 years of age or older must be restrained by a seat belt.
All passengers in a taxi or livery who are 8-15 years of age must be restrained by a seat belt.
So Buckle Up, Westchester, and stay safe whether you are the driver or passenger in a motor vehicle.
Original source can be found here.
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