October 27, 2003

Michigan law enforcement leaders today announced plans to build on successful efforts to reduce traffic fatalities through continued high-visibility traffic enforcement campaigns. In the new fiscal year, hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the state are expected to take part in four national mobilizations aimed at further increasing safety belt use and reducing drunk driving through strict enforcement of traffic laws.

The mobilizations will receive an additional boost from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP), which administers federal traffic safety funds. Law enforcement agencies in 20 counties will share nearly $2 million to beef up patrols in the state’s high population and travel areas. Another $1.5 million in federal money will support paid advertising, warning motorists of upcoming enforcement crackdowns.

Coordinated enforcement campaigns are having a positive impact in Michigan, where traffic fatalities are falling, belt use is on the upswing and alcohol-related deaths are down.

"We’re definitely bucking the national trend," said Lt. Colonel Peter Munoz, deputy director of the Michigan State Police. "Despite increases in population, travel and vehicles, our traffic fatality numbers for 2002 were the lowest since 1945. It’s clear these programs are helping to make a positive difference."

Nationally, traffic fatalities and alcohol-related traffic fatalities were up in 2002.

In Michigan, traffic deaths have been on the decline for three years. The number of alcohol and/or drug involved traffic fatalities in 2002, 463, represented 35.8 percent of all traffic deaths, the first sizable decline since the early 1990s.

Further, the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institutes reports that Michigan’s safety belt use rate is nearly 85 percent following the most recent observation survey conducted during the Labor Day holiday. The new figure beats the state record set in May 2003 when the belt rate reached 84 percent.

"Our state is seeing the benefit of this coordinated effort that involves law enforcement agencies at all levels, local, county and the state," said Terry Jungel, executive director of the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association. "Plain and simple, these programs are about saving lives."

Motorists can expect to hear and see more about Buckle Up or Pay Up, Click It or Ticket as well as You Drink & Drive. You Lose. Safety belt mobilizations will run from Nov.17-30 and May 24-June 6, 2004 . Drunk driving crackdowns are scheduled for Dec. 19, 2003, through Jan. 4, 2004, and June 25-July 11, 2004.

During the last fiscal year, law enforcement agencies participating in the four statewide safety belt and drunk driving mobilizations wrote 48,229 safety belt citations, made 4,654 drunk driving arrests, 3,001 felony arrests and 15,714 misdemeanor arrests.

"Most traffic stops are routine," said Chief Gary Gibbons of the Meridian Township Police Department and chair of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Safety Committee. "But from time to time these stops end in the arrest of dangerous felons, identify drug couriers or others that pose a threat to our safety."

Counties that will share federal traffic safety funds for additional traffic enforcement are: Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Delta, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Wayne and Washtenaw.