Sheriff's Office to enforce seat belt rules

BRADENTON – Starting Monday, better buckle up.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said in a press release that it'll be intensifying its efforts to enforce seat belt laws from March 1 to 15.

A seat belt violation is $116 and is now considered a primary traffic stop, which means law enforcement can pull someone over and issue a ticket for a seat belt violation.

According to 2008 data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 2,983 people were killed in motor vehicle-related crashes. Of these traffic deaths, 1,795 were either drivers or passengers in safety belt-equipped vehicles. Sixty percent (1,085) of these people killed were not wearing a safety belt.

In addition, in 2008, 68 percent (54 of 79) of the children ages 0 to 17 killed in traffic crashes were not using safety equipment.

Research has shown that lap/shoulder belts, when used properly; reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50 percent. For light-truck occupants, safety belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 60 percent and moderate-to-critical injury by 65 percent.

Safety belts are 80 percent effective in reducing fatalities in light trucks (including sport utility vehicles) during rollover crashes. They also help prevent individuals from being totally ejected during a crash, thus reducing the risk of a fatal injury.