Even though buckling your seat belt is the most effective safety measure you can take when driving or riding in a vehicle, 1 in 5 people still fail to regularly use a seat belt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives in 2011 alone. However, that same year, 52% of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in motor vehicle crashes were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
In an effort to raise awareness of seat belt safety, to encourage drivers and passengers to always buckle up, and to save more lives, local law enforcement agencies across the nation are cracking down on motorists and passengers who don’t buckle up through the NHTSA’s Click It or Ticket campaign. The 2014 Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization will run from May 19 through June 1.
During the campaign, police officers will be prepared to ticket anyone not wearing a seat belt, no warning and no excuses. This high-visibility law enforcement created by the Click It or Ticket campaign has increased the U.S.’s seat belt usage rate from 58% in 1994 to 86% in 2012. In fact, seat belt usage is now at an all-time high.
Stay safe on the roads and avoid a ticket by buckling up every time you drive or ride in a car, and not just during the enforcement mobilization. Police officers enforce seat belt laws year-round, and a motor vehicle crash can happen at any time. A seat belt can save your life when an unexpected crash occurs.