FARGO — A recent, tragic fatal crash on 10th Street in Fargo is highlighting the critical importance of wearing a seatbelt, as the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) prepares for a major statewide enforcement campaign.
Captain Bryan Niewind discussed the crash on a segment of “Trooper Talk,” detailing the severity of the incident.
“We had a vehicle that was traveling northbound on 10th Street in the 1200 block or sprayed by the campus of NDSU,” Niewind explained.
The driver lost control, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway, strike a parked car in a driveway, and then hit a large tree before coming to rest. There were three occupants in the vehicle; the driver and one passenger suffered “very severe injuries,” and one passenger was tragically killed.
Captain Niewind immediately drew a direct link between the crash’s outcome and the failure to use restraints. In this case, he noted, the occupants were “not wearing seatbelts” and a seatbelt “would have made a difference”.
“Click It or Ticket” Campaign Launched
The accident serves as a grave reminder as the NDHP launches a nationwide “Click It or Ticket” overtime project.
The campaign will run from November 1st running into December.
Niewind stressed that this enforcement effort, which utilizes extra troopers, is primarily about deterrence and safety, not just issuing citations. ”
If we did not stop a single person during that overtime period for not wearing a seatbelt, that would be a success for us,” he stated.
However, he predicted that statistics will likely show “thousands of traffic stops” still being made for unbelted drivers and passengers.
He noted that officers are trained to spot non-compliance easily: “It’s pretty obvious for in most vehicles when people are not wearing their seatbelts.”
