“Buckle up – It’s the Law”. “Maintain Safe Speed”. “Arrive Alive”. We have all read the neon road signs and heard the public service announcements but should not become numb to the message. As we approach this heavily traveled Memorial Day Weekend, remember to practice safe and defensive driving in order to avoid the tragedy of a PA car accident, pedestrian accident, Pennsylvania motorcycle accident, or PA bicycle accident.
The Click It or Ticket effort, which refers to mandatory seat belt use, runs from May 24 thru June 13. In case you are unclear as to Pennsylvania’s seat belt law, it is a secondary offense, meaning that you would initially be pulled over for another reason, such as a traffic violation, and cannot be pulled over solely for not wearing a seat belt. All front seat passengers are required to be buckled up. A ticket issued for failure to wear a seat belt can result in a fine of $60 – on top of the fine for the offense in which you were pulled over. In addition, children between the ages of 4 – 8 must be restrained in a booster seat in any motor vehicle and children ages 8 – 18 must wear a seat belt when riding in a motor vehicle. Children under the age of 4 must be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat or the driver risks a fine of $100.
Though PennDOT reports that car accident fatalities among unrestrained drivers/passengers were down last year, it is still alarming that 451 unrestrained drivers lost their lives in 2009. Over one-half of the 2009 Pennsylvania car accident fatalities occurred in the evening, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m., and over one-half of those fatalities occurred between the late night hours of 10:00 p.m. and 2:59 a.m. Therefore, during the campaign, Pennsylvania police will sharpen nighttime enforcement. Last year state and local police combined issued over 6,600 seat belt citations and more than 400 child safety seat violations.
If you are not in the habit of wearing a seat belt, perhaps its time to start. Research has been definitive that seat belts do save lives. In addition, it sets a good example to others in your family. Many motorists will not drive responsibly so do everything in your power to protect yourself. If you are a victim of a Pennsylvania car accident due to another’s recklessness, contact the Pennsylvania car accident lawyers at Cordisco & Saile LLC to schedule a free consultation. We will fight for the compensation you deserve.
