Seat-belt campaign returning to streets

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

Fasten your seat belts: The state Department of Transportation and county police departments are bringing back the successful "Click It Or Ticket" enforcement program in November.

State transportation officials and law enforcement agencies are scheduled to meet next week to plan the next phase of the program, said state transportation spokeswoman Marilyn Kali.

"People have become more aware of seat-belt use since the last enforcement period," Kali said. "We're bringing it back to remind folks again."

Kali said officials have yet to set the dates for the upcoming seat-belt campaign.

Police officers issued 4,734 tickets for seat-belt violations during the "Click It or Ticket" campaign from May 13 to June 2. Another 169 citations were issued during that period for failure to use child safety seats.

Seat-belt violators during the campaign paid between $45 and $67 for the fine, $15 for an administrative fee and $7 for a driver education fee.

During the nationwide program, Hawai'i became one of three states to achieve 90 percent seat-belt use, along with California and Washington.

A survey conducted by the University of Hawai'i during the last week of the program showed that statewide seat-belt use rose from 83.5 percent to 90.4 percent during the campaign.

The study showed Kaua'i had the highest percentage of seat-belt use at 92.7, and Maui showed the biggest increase, going from 78 percent last year to 87.7 percent this year. O'ahu's use rate increased to 91 percent; the Big Island's rose to 88.9 percent.

Before the recent campaign, seat-belt use in Hawai'i had remained relatively stable, ranging between 80 percent and 85 percent from 1990 to 2001, well above the national average of 71 percent, but still below the previous peak of 85 percent observed in 1991.

State statistics show 42 people killed in Hawai'i vehicle crashes in 2000 were not wearing seat belts, and 31 of them were between ages 16 and 35.

Honolulu police Maj. Robert Prasser of the department's Traffic Division strongly believes the previous campaign not only increased seat-belt use among motorists, but may have saved lives in major collisions.

Prasser said there were 57 traffic fatalities at this time last year, 33 of them while in a vehicle. There have been 46 traffic fatalities so far this year, with 18 of the deaths in vehicles.

"I know we can't directly attribute the latest figures to the 'Click It Or Ticket' campaign, but wearing a seat belt does increase your chances of surviving an accident, particularly one involving speed," he said.

Costs for the new phase of the program has yet to be determined, Kali said.

The previous "Click It or Ticket" campaign included $250,000 in federal money for the four county police departments to pay for their own additional enforcement and educational efforts. Another $450,000 was spent on media ads to promote the program and seat-belt use, Kali said.

Reach Scott Ishikawa at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-8110.