County

Colo. seatbelt use up to 86 percent

RBC | Last year, there were 222 unbuckled fatalities on Colorado roads—accounting for about half of the 410 total passenger vehicle deaths in the state. According to a just-released survey by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), seat belt usage in Colorado increased by 2.5 percent in 2018 after three years of decline. CDOT’s 2018 State of Colorado Statewide Seat Belt Survey shows seat belt usage improved to 86.3 percent from 83.8 percent in 2017—the first improvement since 2015. Still, Colorado trails the national seat belt average of 90 percent.
View the entire survey at https://www.codot.gov/library/surveys/2018-statewide-seat-belt-survey/view.  Year-to-date fatality data by county and city can be found at https://www.codot.gov/library/traffic/safety-crash-data/fatal-crash-data-city-county/fatal-crashes-by-city-and-county.
“Although some counties improved, overall the state is below the national average,” said Darrell Lingk, director of the Office of Transportation Safety at CDOT. “Colorado unfortunately lacks a primary seat belt law, so people are only cited for not wearing a seat belt when they are pulled over for another traffic violation. This results in less people buckling up.”
The survey identifies use rates for 31 Colorado counties. The highest was Douglas County (95 percent) and the lowest usage was Cheyenne County (65 percent). Adams County fell to second lowest, declining to 70 percent from 80 percent in 2017. The most improved counties were Clear Creek (85 percent; +8 percent), El Paso (85 percent; +5 percent), Fremont (84 percent; +7 percent), Las Animas (92 percent; +9 percent) and Pueblo (86 percent; +7 percent).
Five of the six counties with the lowest use rates were all rural—Cheyenne (65 percent), Delta (75 percent), La Plata (76 percent), Montezuma and Chaffee (77 percent).
“Each year, this survey gives insight on where we need to focus our efforts to increase Colorado’s seat belt use,” said Col. Matthew Packard, chief of the CSP. “As in past years, rural counties use seat belts less than other areas in the state. We need to improve in these regions, and all regions, to increase Colorado’s seat belt use and lower passenger vehicle fatalities.”
In 2017 Colorado ranked 40th in the country in seat belt use, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), meaning 39 states scored better. 2018 comparison data is not yet available. Seat belts reduce the risk of injury and death in a crash by 50 percent.
The annual State of Colorado Statewide Seat Belt Survey is required by NHTSA to estimate seat belt use. Trained surveyors observe and record seat belt use for drivers and front seat passengers only. For this survey, 132,447 vehicles and 162,096 occupants (drivers and passengers) were observed during a two-week period in June. For safety and visibility, this survey was conducted during the daytime between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and does not record seat belt use during nighttime hours. NHTSA confirms that belt use is significantly lower, and unbelted fatalities are far greater at night.
Click It or Ticket is a nationwide campaign from NHTSA. Since Click It or Ticket was introduced in Colorado in 2002, statewide seat belt use has increased from 72 percent to 86.3 percent in 2018. In May 2018, CDOT developed a series of ads featuring Coloradans promoting seat belt use. View the campaign ads at https://www.codot.gov/safety/seatbelts-carseats

Special to the Herald Times

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  • Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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