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Tennessee Department of Safety releases Annual Safety Belt Enforcement Report

Safety Belt Convictions Increase Over Five-Year Period

Tennessee Department of SafetyNashville, TN — The Tennessee Department of Safety today released a 90-page report on Safety Belt Enforcement in Tennessee.  The annual report, provided to the Tennessee General Assembly, indicates that statewide safety belt convictions increased 138.5 percent from FY 04-05 to FY 08-09. 

 The study also provides data and analysis on safety belt citations issued by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, statewide convictions involving child restraint device (CRD) violations and child restraint device citations issued by THP. 

“The Department of Safety is pleased to announce the release of the annual Safety Belt Enforcement in Tennessee report in compliance with the directive issued by the Tennessee General Assembly following passage of the Primary Safety Belt Usage Law, which became effective in July 2004,” stated Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “Enforcement of safety belt usage is critical to the mission of our department and all highway enforcement agencies seeking to reduce injury and death on our highways.”

Statewide safety belt convictions reported to the Department of Safety by all agencies increased from 32,145 in FY 04-05 to 76,653 in FY 08-09.  In FY 08-09, approximately 30 percent of all drivers convicted were between the ages of 25-34.  Additionally, statewide CRD convictions increased from 3,434 in FY 04-05 to 5,672 in FY 08-09.  The majority of CRD convictions (58%) were received by females

Safety Belt
Safety Belt

The Safety Belt Enforcement in Tennessee report also provides five year data on citations issued by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.  THP citations for safety belt violations increased 6 percent from 48,620 in FY 04-05 to 51,655 in FY 05-06, but decreased 33 percent over the full five-year period to 32,520 in FY 08-09. This decrease could partially be attributed to the increase in the state’s seat belt usage rate of 80.6 percent over this time period.  During all five years, about 28 percent of all ticketed drivers were between the ages of 25-34, becoming the most frequently ticketed group throughout the five-year period

THP citations for CRD violations decreased 39 percent (39.4%) over the five-year period from 5,724 in FY 04-05 to 3,471 in FY 08-09.  Those mostly frequently ticketed for CRD violations were between the ages of 20-29 and make up 41 percent (41.4%) of all CRD citations during the five-year period. The majority of CRD citations were received by females.

The Tennessee Department of Safety’s Research, Planning & Development Division compiled data for the study. The full 90-page Safety Belt Enforcement in Tennessee report can be viewed at http://state.tn.us/safety/stats/SpecialReports/SafetyBeltReport2010.pdf. Since Tennessee does not have a statutory uniform citation law, statewide data on the number of citations issued by all law enforcement agencies is not available.

About the Tenessee Department of Safety

The Tennessee Department of Safety’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public.  The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.

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