Buckle up your child

How many times have you seen an unbuckled child and felt powerless to do anything about it? Now there is something you can do.

From May 22 to 29, the Veazie Police Deparmtent is joining the next Operation ABC Mobilization, the nationwide law enforcement crackdown on deadbeat drivers — adults who drive with unbuckled children. At the same time, citizens can help protect kids by reporting vehicles with unbuckled children through a National Safety Council toll-free number.

During the week of the mobilization, citizens who see unbuckled children can call 1-800-764-5755 and provide the license plate number of the vehicle. The National Safety Council will send a letter to the owner of the vehicle cautioning him or her that allowing a child to ride unbuckled is dangerous and illegal, and if this person is stopped by the police, he or she could be ticketed and fined.

Research shows that deadbeat drivers themselves admit it takes strong laws and fines to get them to restrain their child passengers. These letters reminding them of this possibility may help prevent a potential tragedy — the kind we see too often.

We participate in these mobilizations because we know they are getting results. Our officers will write tickets because they know that’s what it takes to prevent the unpseakable tragedies that can occur when adults allow a child to ride unbuckled.

The last five mobilizations have helped to significantly increase child restraint use and a decrease in child fatalities, but there is more work to do. One out of four children still rides unrestrained, meaning 15 million children are at deadly risk every day. Traffic crashes are still the No. 1 killer of children, with six out of 10 children who die being completely unbuckled. Nearly half of those kids would be alive today if the adult driver had made sure they were restrained.

Officers also will be stepping up enforcement of adult seat belt laws because it’s a proven fact that most adults who don’t buckle up themselves don’t buckle up children. Research has found that buckled drivers are three times more likely to restrain their child passengers than drivers who don’t buckle up.

It will take the collective outrage of all of us to reach deadbeat drivers who don’t make sure their child passengers are protected. No one should look the other way when they see a child at risk. Everyone must speak up if they see their friends and relatives letting a child ride unbuckled. No matter how short the ride, such carelessness is always life threatening and never worth the risk.

We can no longer tolerate children being injured and killed because adults fail to buckle them up. Law enforcement wil ldo our part, and now the public can support these critical efforts. Continuing through May 29, if you see a vehicle with an unbuckled child, call 1-800-764-5755. You may help save a young life.

Sgt. John A. Knappe is a patrol supervisor with the Veazie Police Department.