Nationwide, since Operation ABC began in 1996, child restraint use in toddlers has increased 30 percent now almost 90 percent of toddlers are restrained. In the same time period, the use of seat belts for children ages 5-15 has risen to almost 70 percent. We applaud you for your part in creating these successes and heartily encourage you to keep up the good work until every child is safely restrained. But much remains to be done. That s why we are urging zero tolerance for unbuckled kids and urge you to use every means at your disposal to get kids buckled up.
Studies consistently show that the best way to get children buckled up is to get adults buckled up.
However, when a driver is unbuckled, child belt use drops to only 24 percent. It is time as a nation that we thank our law enforcement officers and our elected officials for their unwavering dedication to establishing and enforcing seat belt laws particularly those affecting children.