Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Click It or Ticket

With an average of 8 fatal traffic crashes a year on the Baltimore Washington Parkway, the United States Park Police is increasing enforcement for seatbelt usage on this roadway.

Traffic Safety Unit Crash Reconstructionists have identified a lack of seat belt usage as a major factor in about half of these fatal crashes.

We firmly believe that a combination of education and enforcement will assist in reducing this toll.

The rate of compliance with seatbelt usage in Maryland, at 94%, is the highest on the East Coast.

The Baltimore Washington Parkway has a compliance rate slightly lower than Maryland’s average at about 90%.

Unbelted passengers die in traffic crashes because they are ejected from vehicles or are severely tossed around inside crashing cars.

Seatbelts will save lives.

Those refusing to use seatbelts claim a false sense of security because their cars have airbags. Airbags are a supplemental restraint system - just that, a supplement-not the whole safety package.

Some refuse to use seatbelts because they fear being trapped in a crashed car.

This is simply misplaced logic.

Should you be involved in a serious crash, your chances for survival are substantially increased if you wear a seatbelt.

Wearing a seatbelt costs nothing; receiving a ticket for not wearing one will cost you.

Crashing a car without a seatbelt may cost you and your friends and family everything.