October 13, 2017
Upper Allen Police along with 106 other law enforcement agencies across Pennsylvania have agreed to participate in a Teen Seat Belt Mobilization scheduled from October 16 – October 27, 2017. This Teen Mobilization will coincide with the National Teen Driver Safety Week. The goal of this Teen Mobilization is very specific; to increase belt use among drivers and passengers under the age of 18 and ultimately save young lives. The focus will primarily be on youth drivers, (under the age of 18) on school campuses, targeted youth events, and on roadways around their high schools.
This is primarily an enforcement mobilization. Law enforcement agencies will be issuing seat belt citations when identified. Drivers and passengers under the age of 18, not wearing safety belts is a primary offense. The vehicle can be detained solely for that violation. The cost for conviction is a minimum of $60.00 for teens.
Traffic crashes continue to remain the leading cause of death for Pennsylvania’s young people and two thirds of those killed each year still remain unbelted.
Teen Crashes by the numbers:
• From 2012 to 2016, there were 87,433 crashes involving at least one 16 to 19-year old driver in Pennsylvania, resulting in 592 fatalities.
• 71.3 percent of those crashes involved the teen driver driving too fast for conditions for a total of 32,466 crashes.
• Driver inexperience accounted for 9,959 crashes
• Driver distraction accounted for 14,621 crashes
• Improper/careless turning accounted for 13,255 crashes
• There was a total of 62,413 crashes with one or more of these teen driver factors.
• In Pennsylvania in 2016, there were 46 teen drivers 16 to 19 years old who were killed in crashes.
• Of those teen drivers, 25 of them did not have their seat belt on.
• 129,4907 crashes occurred in Pennsylvania in 2016 resulting in 1,188 fatalities.
o 410 unbelted occupant fatalities
o 258 belted occupant fatalities
o 113 seat belt use unknown
o 403 non-occupant fatalities (motorcycle, pedestrian, etc.)
• Seat belts were not worn by over 50% percent of people killed in occupant-related traffic crashes. The percentage rises significantly at night.
• Pennsylvania’s seat belt usage rate was 85 percent in 2016 and the Teen usage rate is believed to be lower.
The Upper Allen Police Department places an emphasis on traffic safety and three officers are dedicated solely to that objective. Any persons with questions or concerns related to traffic safety can contact the department at (717) 238-9676.
