DPS NEWS

Utah Department of Public Safety launches Ponte el Cinturón campaign

New seat belt safety video and website geared towards Spanish-speaking community 

SALT LAKE CITY (May 10, 2021) —  To increase seat belt use and save lives, The Utah Department of Public Safety launched a new campaign in May to reach members of the Spanish-speaking community. The “Ponte el Cinturón” campaign, which translates to “Put Your Seat Belt On” reminds families to always buckle up. Seat belts are the single most effective traffic safety device for preventing death and injury in motor vehicle crashes. DPS hopes this campaign extends its life saving buckle up message and information to those who may not have heard it due to language barriers. 

“Enforcement is only part of the solution. These new campaign videos speak to the need for seat belt safety culture among families, especially the influence children can have on parents. Our goal is to ensure that all Utahns hear this important safety message and make the decision to buckle up every time they travel,” says Lieutenant Nick Street, Utah Highway Patrol PIO. 

On the newly translated clickit.utah.gov/ponte website, visitors can find extensive resources on seat belt safety like how to properly wear seat belts and install car seats. 

Over the past 5 years, 259 people lost their lives in an unbuckled crash on Utah roads. In 2020, an estimated 61 additional lives would have been saved if everyone had been wearing seatbelts. 

In a crash, unbuckled passengers become deadly projectiles, with two options: ejection from the vehicle, or flying around the cab injuring themselves and possibly others. And it’s important to note that when the driver is unbuckled, 76% of children also ride unbuckled. When the driver is belted, 87% of children also ride with a seat Belt. These facts gravely highlight the need for increased awareness of seat belt use.

The Ponte el Cinturón (put your seat belt on) is a DPS/UHSO outreach campaign working to address traffic safety and seat belt issues among the Hispanic community in Utah. All efforts are focused on encouraging seat belt use and saving lives. For more information visit clickit.utah.gov/ponte. Campaign videos can be viewed here.

###

Media Contact:

Lt. Nick Street

Utah Highway Patrol – PIO

nstreet@utah.gov

801.554.5659

Trp. Mikki Vargas

UHP – PIO (Spanish speaking)

mvargas@utah.gov

385.246.5946