State officials are targeting seat belt use with “Click on Michigan”, a part of the “Click it or Ticket” campaign.
In 2009, Michigan had a seat belt use rate of 98 percent, the top in the nation.
Last year it was 94 percent, and had fallen out of the top ten to twelfth in the country.
Anne Readett is with the Michigan State Police.
“Once our seat belt use rate went so high in our state, one of the things we did in our office was dialed back a bit in the effort with both enforcement and advertising, and we’ve increased resources for that over the years.”
Readett said the use rate is calculated using direct observation surveys done by a team of Michigan State University researchers who travel across the state and track the number of drivers and front seat passengers wearing seat belts.
“When we look at things we can do to save lives and reduce injuries there are two things that don't change overtime. And that’s to encourage everyone to drive sober, unimpaired by drugs or alcohol, and to make sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up, not only the driver.”
She said the MSP is starting to mobilize more officers to crack down on seat belt use.