'Click It or Ticket' Initiative in Effect in Waukee

Motorists who decide not to wear their seat belts – beware.  The 2012 National Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization kicks off May 21, 2012.  Iowa’s city, county, and state law enforcement are teaming up with highway safety advocates across the country to help save more lives by enforcing seat belt laws around the clock.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows in 2010, 61 percent of the 10,647 passenger vehicle occupants killed during nighttime (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) motor vehicle traffic crashes were not wearing their seat belts.  The daytime, unbelted traffic fatality rate is 42 percent.

In 2011, there were 360 motorists killed in crashes on Iowa roadways, which was a 66 year low. However, 115 of those killed were not wearing their seat belts.

“Too many drivers and passengers on the road at night are not wearing their seat belts, and it can all too often end in tragedy,” said Colonel Patrick Hoye with the Iowa State Patrol. “Our goal is to save more lives, so Iowa’s law enforcement agencies will be out enforcing seat belt and other laws around the clock.”

Seat belt use saves thousands of lives each year.  The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau and its law enforcement partners are helping spread the word.  NHTSA statistics show that in 2010 alone, seat belts saved roughly 12,546 lives nationwide.

While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from May 21 through June 3, 2012, motorists should know officers are enforcing seat belt law year-round.  Iowa’s seat belt law has been in effect for nearly 26 years.

For more on the national Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.