Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Wildlife Troopers will be conducting additional traffic patrols through June 6th as part of the Click It or Ticket campaign.
Austin McDaniel, Public Information Officer for Alaska State Troopers spoke with KSRM, “Nationwide its estimated that 2,549 lives could have been saved in 2017 if everyone utilized a seatbelt. While troopers will be focused on identifying drivers and passengers not utilizing seatbelts, they will also be on the lookout for dangerous drivers and drivers operating their vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Motorists who see someone driving dangerously are also encouraged to call in a REDDI – Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately. You can report dangerous drivers by calling 911.”
McDaniel also reminds drivers of additional driver regulations to be aware of, “Alaska does have a driving regulation that does state regardless of whether it’s a commercial, an RV or a regular automobile, that if you’re holding up more than five vehicles behind you and you’re traveling under the speed limit that you are required to pull over when you safely can using one of those roadside pullouts that you’ll find all along Alaska’s highways and you’re also encouraged to, when you’re in a passing lane, to make sure you’re on the right hand side not traveling in the passing lane.”
Officials for the Alaska Highway Safety Office say patrols will tag on extra fines if they pull over someone without a seat belt, “Nationally, seatbelt use in 2018 was around 89.6%. the Alaska State Troopers do believe that Alaskans can do better than that. this summer as you’re recreating throughout the state, be sure that you buckle up.”
Funding for increased patrol efforts comes from grants distributed by the Alaska Highway Safety Office.