WHEREAS, increasing safety belt use is the most effective short-term way to significantly reduce deaths and injuries from traffic crashes, and safety belts reduce injuries in crashes involving drunk drivers, speeders, aggressive drivers, and vehicle-related factors, buckling up substantially reduces serious injuries and fatalities in traffic crashes; and

WHEREAS, extensive research and program experience have determined the only proven way to significantly increase belt use is through strong and well-enforced laws; and

WHEREAS, the keys to increased seat belt use are sound public policies that support strong state belt use laws, encourage effective enforcement of those laws, and provide the resources necessary to carry out these activities, which in order to be successful must be accompanied by the demonstrated leadership of government officials at all levels; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police acknowledges the lifesaving benefits of increased seat belt use and recognizes the role law enforcement must play in this effort, supports the following strategies resulting from the 2001 Seat Belt Summit, including:

• Establishing primary enforcement authority in state safety belt use laws, strengthening state belt use laws to cover all passenger vehicle occupants, and providing meaningful penalties for non-compliance.
   
• Expanding highly visible and effective enforcement programs supported by coordinated paid advertising and news coverage that inform the public about enforcement activities.
   
• Implementing of effective diversity strategies and professional enforcement practices that encourage confidence in traffic stops and achieve high safety belt use in diverse communities.
   
• Encouraging the development and installation of effective vehicle systems to induce occupants to buckle up
• ; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police seek to have a direct effect on those strategies that involve law enforcement, and supports the following implementation actions:

• Educating all law enforcement officers and supervisors about the safety benefits of seat belt use and enforcement.
   
• Working toward incorporating safety belt enforcement into standard patrol activities, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
   
• Conducting and publicizing observational surveys in coordination with enforcement activities.
   
• Implementing policies and strategies that achieve high seat belt usage in diverse communities.
   
• Training officers in communication skills, conflict resolution, and cultural diversity; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the governors and legislative bodies of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, all Governor’s Representatives for Highway Safety, and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. This resolution was also sponsored by the Highway Safety Committee and the Division of State and Provincial Police.