The Midland Police Department Traffic Safety Team will participate in the national and state Buckle Up or Pay Up / Click It or Ticket campaign May 19 - June 1.
The campaign is designed to encourage drivers and passengers to use their seat belts, and to properly restrain children under the age of four. In an effort to encourage the use of safety belts, the police department will adopt a zero tolerance approach when encountering adults and children who are not properly restrained. Motorists in violation of the law will receive a traffic ticket.
The Traffic Safety Team would like to remind motorists of some basic safety belt usage rules:
· Make sure all drivers and passengers buckle up every trip. Safety belts increase your chance of surviving a crash by 50%.
· Michigan law requires all front-seat passengers to buckle up and all passengers under age 16 to buckle up, whether in the front or back seat.
· For persons at or above 4’9” and 80 lbs. the shoulder belt should fit snugly over their shoulder with the lap belt low on the hips.
· Persons under 4’9” and 80 lbs. should ride in an age-appropriate, properly secured car seat or booster seat.
· Michigan law requires children under age 4 to be in a properly installed car seat.
·
Safety experts recommend infants younger than
age 1 ride in a rear-facing seat in the back
seat.
For more information, contact the Midland Police
Department at