Garden City Joins Statewide Safety Initiative For Seat Belt Crackdown

GARDEN CITY, NY — The Garden City Police Department will participate in the Buckle-Up New York enforcement, which runs from May 19-June 1.

During the initiative, officers will conduct highly visible patrols and checkpoints throughout the village, specifically targeting driver who are not complying with occupant restraint laws, including child safety seat regulations.

"Our commitment to ensuring the safety of our community is unwavering, and we encourage all residents to buckle up for their own safety and the safety of others," Garden City Police Commissioner Kenneth Jackson said.

The primary goal of the Garden City police's Occupant Restraint Enforcement Program is to reduce personal injuries and fatalities resulting from automobile crashes through both education and enforcement.

The use of restraints dramatic reduces traffic injuries and deaths on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the national rate for seat belt usage in 2014 was 91.2 percent. Seat belt use in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 14,955 lives in 2017, the NHTSA said.

The Buckle-Up New York initiative serves as a reminder for all drivers and passengers to wear
their seat belts and ensure proper use of child safety seats.