Law enforcement cracking down on seat belts

Beginning today and going through March, the Ponca City Police Department will join other Oklahoma Law Enforcement agencies to reduce serious injury and fatal crashes by cracking down on those not buckled up, especially new drivers and their passengers.

According to 2016 statistics from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, in 2016, 56 drivers age 16-19 were involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes. These teens could have increased their chances of survival by wearing a seat belt and also ensuring that everyone in the vehicle they were driving was buckled up.

This is why the Ponca City Police Department is reminding all Oklahoma drivers, passengers and particularly teens to buckle up each and every time they get into a vehicle.

During 2016, a total of 13,910 drives age 16-19 were involved in motor vehicle crashes across the state of Oklahoma.

“Our officers will have an increased presence around the schools both before and after and citations will be written for not complying with the seat belt laws,” says Patrol Division Captain Randy Tyner.

Wearing seat belts is the single most effective way to prevent serious injuries and save people from dying in vehicle crashes.

Since the Oklahoma Mandatory Seat Belt Use Act, you can get pulled over solely for not wearing your seat belt. By law, both driver and front seat passengers must wear properly adjusted seat belts at all times. The driver of the vehicle is solely responsible for properly securing children under the age of 12.

Oklahoma law requires every child under 8 years old to be properly secured in a child passenger restraint system. By law, children under 2 must be properly secured in a rear-facing car seat. Children ages 2 to 4 must be in a car seat.

Children 4 to 8 must be in a car seat or child booster seat until at least age 8, unless the child is taller than 4’9”. Eight years, or taller than 4’9”, must wear a seatbelt.

Regardless of age, the back seat is always the safest place for children.