State troopers in the Quad Cities are working to reduce the number of traffic fatalities caused by distracted driving and people not wearing seatbelts.
In 2016 the Quad Cities Trooper Post investigated a total of 31 traffic crash fatalities; 16 of these were single vehicle crashes. Of these 31 fatalities, 17 drivers and passengers were not wearing seatbelts. 12 of them were ejected from the vehicle.
From January 1st 2017 through the current date, the Quad Cities Trooper Post investigated 44 crash fatalities. Of these 44 fatalities, 22 drivers and passengers were not wearing seat belts and 10 victims were ejected from the vehicle. Of the 44 crash fatalities investigated, 30 were one vehicle crashes.
In an effort to reduce the number of fatalities in Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, and Lawrence Counties, Quad Cities Troopers will be concentrating on seat belt enforcement and watching for indicators of distracted drivers.
According to Cpl. Bill Burke of the Alabama State Troopers Quad Cities post, they will be pulling people over for these offenses.
Burke says that those crash fatality numbers indicate that some lives would have been saved if the victims were wearing seat belts, particularly those who were ejected from the vehicle. The high number of one vehicle crashes also indicates these drivers were distracted just prior to the crash or otherwise not paying attention to road conditions.
Source: alea.gov
