Reading 2013 High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign Began May 20

Click It or Ticket to Boost Seat Belt Use – Day and Night

As motorists take to the roads this Memorial Day holiday, Reading police are urging everyone to buckle up.   The Reading Police Department, in partnership with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s (EOPSS) Highway Safety Division (HSD), the State Police and more than 250 other local departments will take part in the 2013 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization from May 20 to June 2 and crack down on motorists who are not belted.

“As we kick-off  the busy summer driving season it’s important that everyone buckles up every time they go out, both day and night – no excuses,” said Lieutenant David Stamatis. “Our officers are also prepared to ticket drivers and passengers not wearing seat belts – Click It or Ticket.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over half of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were unbelted at the time of the crash. Those deaths were more prevalent at night than during the daytime. 

Tragically, these national statistics are mirrored locally.  According to the NHTSA, 54 percent of people killed in passenger motor vehicle crashes in Massachusetts during 2011 were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

“Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists are still not buckling up,” said Lieutenant David Stamatis. “We want everyone to have a safe summer, but it requires an important step on the part of motorists – clicking that seat belt – every trip, every time.”

NHTSA estimates 11,949 lives nationwide were saved by using seatbelts.  This year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from May 20 through June 2 but officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.

For more on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.mass.gov/highwaysafety.