VSU to enforce safety belt use

Valdosta State University's Public Safety will begin increased safety belt enforcement during National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week, Feb. 11?17.

Public Safety officers will conduct occupant safety checkpoints, with the Valdosta Police Department, to focus on drivers who are not wearing their safety belts and who are not buckling up children passengers.

According to Major Ann Farmer, assistant director of Public Safety, VSU has a zero tolerance policy for safety belt violators.

?The increased safety belt enforcement is aimed at reducing the number of violators within VSU 's jurisdiction, especially those transporting children,? Farmer said.

Recent statewide statistics indicate that the current child safety belt rate is 74 percent. In Georgia, studies reveal that when a driver is buckled, 85 percent of children are buckled and when a driver is unbuckled, restraint use for children drops to 15 percent.

VSU's participation in the safety belt enforcement is part of a one-year $10,000 grant, from the Governor's Office of High Safety, aimed at increasing safety belt use at VSU.

For more information, contact Public Safety at 229?333?7816.