The 2013 “Click It or Ticket” campaign kicks off on May 10 in Illinois. The purpose of the campaign is to help save lives by cracking down on individuals who do not buckle up through the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
The Naperville Police Department is joining the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Police (ISP) and more than 500 local law enforcement agencies across the state to save more lives by strongly enforcing seat belt laws.
“As we kick-off the busy summer driving season it’s important for everyone to buckle up every trip, every time, day or night – no excuses,” said Sergeant Al Trotsky. “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing a seat belt.”
Provisional numbers show that during the 2012 Memorial Day weekend there were six fatalities and almost 600 injuries on Illinois roadways. Three of those fatalities were alcohol-related. Remember – wearing your seat belt is your best defense against an impaired driver.
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. As noted, 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 6PM to 5:59AM were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.
“Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists still are not buckling up, especially at night when the risk of getting in a crash is even greater,” said Sergeant Trotsky. “Our goal is to save more lives, so Naperville Police Officers will be out enforcing seat belt laws around the clock.”
In 2011, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide according to NHTSA. While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign runs from May 10 through May 27, officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.
Buckle up and encourage your loved ones to do the same. In fact, if you’re the driver of the car, you can refuse to move the vehicle until every passenger is buckled.
You will save the cost of a ticket and may save a life.
For more information about the Click It or Ticket campaign, visit www.buckleupillinois.org.
