Buckle Up, Annual Click It or Ticket Campaign Begins Monday

Motorists who refuse to wear their seat belts – beware. The 2013 national "Click It or Ticket" seat belt enforcement mobilization kicks off March 18, 2013 to help save lives by cracking down on those who don’t buckle up.

The Middletown Police Department is joining with state and other local law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates across the country to help save lives by enforcing seat belt laws around the clock.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010 nationally, 61 percent of the 10,647 passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes overnight (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the
fatal crash, compared to 42 percent during the daytime hours.

Seat belt use saves thousands of lives across America each year and the Middletown Police Department is helping spread the word. NHTSA statistics show in 2010 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives
nationwide.

Yet, too many motorists may need a tough reminder. In 2010, 22,187 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in motor vehicle crashes, according to NHTSA, and 51 percent of them were NOT wearing seat belts at the time of their fatal crashes.

Younger motorists and men are particularly at risk. NHTSA data shows that among teen and young adult passenger vehicle occupants in 2010, ages 18-34, who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes, 62 percent were not buckled up at the time of the crash – the highest percentage of any age group. The
number jumps to 66 percent when just men in this age group are included. While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from March 18 - March 24, motorists should know officers enforce seat belt laws year-round.