Riverside, Ca-  In support of National Buckle Up America Mobilization and in conjunction with the State of California’s Seat Belt Compliance Campaign, the Riverside Police Department will be conducting a special seat belt compliance enforcement program during a 21-day period from May 16th through June 5th, 2005.

The seat belt use rate in California in calendar year 2004 was 90.4%, which is higher than the nationwide average of 80%, however, that 9.6% of the population that fails to buckle up represents more than 3 million people – which would equate to the populations of 21 states.

Research reveals that people who fail to buckle up justify their irresponsible behavior with one of the following excuses:
 

• I forgot!
• I’m only taking a short trip.
• Seat belts are uncomfortable.

Law Enforcement agencies throughout California will be conducting similar programs in support of the seat belt awareness effort. The goal of the California Seat Belt Compliance Campaign is to increase Seat Belt use to 92% in the year 2005.

A grant from the California State Office of Traffic Safety, through the California Business, Transportation & Housing Agency, is providing the funding to the Riverside Police Department to deploy police officers on an overtime basis to enforce seat belt and child safety restraint seat laws.