A survey of California drivers shows that, despite the state's heavy enforcement efforts, more than half of them support "very strict" enforcement. This finding is in the context of the recent Washington state effort over roughly four months when the Washington Traffic Safety Commission recorded more than 6,000 belt and child safety seat violations as part of an enforcement campaign to back up the new primary seat belt law. The findings in California undermine traditional arguments against primary seat belt laws that they are politically unpopular and thus difficult for politicians to support. Fewer than half the states have primary enforcement laws, which allow officers to issue tickets for belt violations without any evidence of other motor vehicle violations. Only 22% of Californians thought the law was being "very strictly" enforced and nearly half thought the $20 fine was too low. This despite the fact that police in California enforce the law more strictly than in many other states. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting