Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog
Massachusetts State Police will be hitting the roads full force over the Memorial Day holiday weekend in an attempt to crack down on seat belt violators, enhance traffic safety and to reduce the risks of a holiday car accident in Boston and elsewhere throughout the state.
The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) and the Massachusetts State Police recently launched their “Click It or Ticket” mobilization campaign as a statewide effort to increase the visibility of traffic enforcement officers and to increase awareness of seat belt usage. The campaign launched earlier this week and will continue through the first week of June.
Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that residents face an increased risk of being involved in a car accident over this long holiday weekend. As many residents and visitors will be hitting our roads to kick off the start of the summer season, we urge all motorists to practice extra cautious driving habits behind the wheel.
Massachusetts State Police will be teaming up with more than 180 local police departments to enforce their zero-tolerance policies for seat belt laws. Officers will be issuing tickets to all vehicle occupants who are busted not wearing their seat belts.
“Seatbelts are your best defense in a crash, yet more than 25 percent of drivers still fail to buckle up,” said Colonel Marian McGovern, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “Tickets will be issued to those who are pulled over and are not wearing their seat belt or if any passenger in the car is unbelted. Everyone in a vehicle needs to buckle up.”
In the State of Massachusetts, it is against the law to ride in a motor vehicle without wearing your seat belt. This law applies to all vehicle occupants. If caught breaking the law, a citation and a fine will be issued to the driver and each passenger that is not properly restrained.
The “Click It or Ticket” campaign has reeled in more than $543,000 for federal highway safety funds. Nearly $500,000 of the money collected has been distributed to state and local police forces to help fund addition enforcement. These funds will go towards public information and awareness programs and additional enforcement during these mobilization periods.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that a little more than 50 percent of passenger vehicle occupants involved in motor vehicle accidents in 2009 in Massachusetts were killed because they were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the accident. It is also estimated that the use of a seat belt, when worn correctly, can decrease the risk of death for front-seat passengers by nearly 50 percent. These odds see an increase of 10 percent in SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks in an accident.
We wish everyone a happy Memorial Day and urge all residents to celebrate their long holiday weekend safely and ask that all motorists practice safe driving skills:
-Be alert on our road by allowing yourself enough rest before heading out on your holiday trip. Avoid drowsy driving.
-Don’t drink and drive and help to make sure your friends and family do the same.
-Make sure that you, and everyone in your vehicle, is buckled up correctly when the car is in motion.
-Halt all distracting driving habits when behind the wheel.
The Boston injury lawyers at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers LLC are dedicated to fighting for the rights of victims and their families in Massachusetts. Contact our experienced team if you have been injured in a car accident by calling (617) 777-7777 to set up a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.
More Blog Entries:
Workers Memorial day event to honor Massachusetts workers killed in the workplace, Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, April 27, 2011
Massachusetts boating accidents near record highs as Memorial Day signals start of boating season, Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, May 30, 2010
Motorists Have New Threats for Boston Car Accidents — Texting Pedestrians, Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, May 20, 2011