Crime & Safety

'I Will Arrive Alive:' Sheriff's Dept. Part of Seat Belt Pilot Program

Expect increased enforcement efforts through September.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police, District 5 were chosen by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to participate in a demonstration project to decrease unbelted crashes in suburban areas.  

With the support of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Highway Safety Office, the sheriff’s office and state police will collaborate to conduct increased enforcement and public outreach activities from June 17 through Sept. 15. 

“Serious crashes can happen anywhere, including close to home,” Will County Deputy Chief Ken Kaupas said in a press release.  “We know that seat belts are the best defense in case of a crash and should always be worn.  That’s why we are asking the Will County residents to pledge 'I WILL Arrive Alive' by always buckling up.”

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According to the sheriff's department, more than 80 percent of all fatalities from unbelted crashes occur within a ten mile radius of an urban area, while less than a third of crashes occur within the urban areas themselves.  

The majority of crashes are happening in the densely traveled buffer zones, otherwise known as the suburbs. In an effort to curb roadway deaths and injury, NHTSA is working with select suburban law enforcement agencies to customize proven countermeasures and best direct limited resources to save lives.  The Chicago suburbs were carefully selected to participate in the program.

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Will County residents can expect stepped up traffic enforcement for the duration of the program, using a combination of announced and unannounced patrols.  

Officers plan to attend community events, use social media and work with corporate partners to spread the I WILL Arrive Alive-Click It or Ticket message. 

 Surveys will be conducted before and after the seat belt interventions to gauge the level of success through usage rates and public knowledge of the campaign.  The results will be used to decrease unbelted fatalities and injuries in suburban areas throughout the country, according to the sheriff's department.

In 2011, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide according to NHTSA. Fifty-two percent of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.   

Illinois’ 2012 seat belt use rate stands at 93.6 percent with Will County’s rate at 83.2 percent.      

For more information about the importance of seat belt use, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.


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