Highway Patrol stepping up child safety belt enforcement

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is joining<br>agencies nationwide in the largest enforcement effort on drivers who don't buckle up their children.<br><br>The Patrol joins the National Highway Traffic Safety

Friday, November 19th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is joining
agencies nationwide in the largest enforcement effort on drivers who don't buckle up their children.

The Patrol joins the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in encouraging corporate, civic and advocacy groups
to support usage of child safety belts.

The Patrol says the goal is to raise seat belt use 85 percent and reduce child crash fatalities 15 percent by the year 2000.

Troopers will participate through public service announcements, education, enforcement and increased visibility to travelers.

The emphasis begins as the busy holiday driving season begins. The 1998 highway death toll for the Thanksgiving holiday was 21 in Oklahoma, the highest since 1985.