Peekskill police are joining a number of department's in the state for the "Ticket or Click It" campaign this week.
"Click It or Ticket" is a national campaign designed to crackdown on motorists who who aren't wearing their seat belts.
Peekskill police Chief Eric Johansen said the department received a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to take part in the program this year. The grant is enough to cover 30 hours worth of overtime this week.
“Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists are still not buckling up, especially at night when the risk of getting in a crash is even greater,” Johansen said. “We want everyone to have a safe summer, but it requires an important step on the part of motorists – clicking that seat belt.”
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 52 percent of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.
Deaths involving seat belt nonuse are more prevalent at night than during the daytime. According to NHTSA, 62 percent of the 10,135 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 during the overnight hours of 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.
In 2011, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide according to NHTSA. While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from May 20 through June 2, officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.
Johansen also warned motorists that seat belt enforcement isn't the only thing his officers are looking out for.
"We're also enforcing every other vehicle and traffic regulation with the goal of making our roads safe for everyone," Johansen said.
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