FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2001
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755
FATALITIES FALL NEARLY 42 PERCENT DURING
SECOND CLICK IT OR TICKET CAMPAIGN:
9,553 TOTAL CITATIONS ISSUED, INCLUDING NEARLY 5,000 SEAT BELT CITATIONS
COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces that fatalities fell by 42 percent from a similar time period in 2000 and seat belt compliance rose during the second wave of the Click It or Ticket campaign that lasted from May 21-June 3. Overall fatalities in the state are down by 88 this year compared to 2000.
The Highway Patrol and State Transport Police conducted about 1,300 checkpoints, joining local law enforcement as well as other Southeastern states in this massive safety campaign, which covered the typically deadly Memorial Day holiday period. The Department of Public Safety alone issued 9,553 citations, including 4,951 for failure to buckle up.
"I am pleased to say that once again we saw fatalities fall during the Click It or Ticket campaign," Gov. Jim Hodges said. "Despite the controversy that has surrounded Click It or Ticket, it’s hard to argue with an enforcement and public education program that so clearly saves lives. This is the lowest number of fatalities we’ve had in this time period since 1996."
This year, 21 motor vehicle occupants died during the 14-day span of Click It or Ticket, compared to 36 motor vehicle occupants in 2000 - a 42 percent drop. This year also represented a decline from other recent years when 34 died in 1999, 39 in 1998, 30 in 1997 and 21 in 1996. The Thanksgiving campaign also saw a significant drop in fatalities. There was almost a 30 percent drop in fatalities - 31 in 2000 compared to 44 in 1999.
DPS estimates that nearly 50,000 vehicles passed through nearly 1,300 checkpoints over the 14-day period. Officers observed more people buckled up this time around, estimating about a 90 percent compliance rate among motorists passing through the checkpoints.
Along with the enforcement component of the campaign, once again television and radio advertising ran across the state alerting people that officers would be out in force holding public safety checkpoints. Throughout the enforcement period, other events were held to heighten awareness, including child safety seat clinics at welcome centers to help parents make sure they are properly restraining their children.
Some of the highlights of the campaign include: 4,951 seat belt citations issued; 551 child restraint citations issued; 8 fugitives apprehended, 1,887 driver’s license violations, 692 vehicle license violations, 300 driving under suspension, 28 driving under the influence (see Media Advisory for complete totals).
Immediately after the campaign ended, DPS began an observational seat belt study to assess what kind of effect the campaign had on seat belt compliance. The pre-Memorial Day campaign survey showed about 68 percent compliance rate going into the campaign, which had slipped from the 74 percent post-Thanksgiving rate.
"It’s not unusual to see those numbers fall after a major enforcement wave, however, our hope is that our post-Memorial Day numbers will show the compliance rate going back up," said DPS Director B. Boykin Rose. "Our officers observed more people buckled, which meant we had to issue less tickets. And that’s good news. Our goal is to make that message of buckling up stick with people throughout the year."