Monticello, Arkansas- The Monticello Police Department raised awareness about seat belt safety to area residents during its annual Click It or Ticket high-visibility seat belt enforcement campaign, held May 22 through June 4. Law enforcement officers wrote a total of 88 citations for seat belt violations in the process. The campaign, which coincided with the Memorial Day holiday, combined increased enforcement and a zero-tolerance policy, with effective communication to road users on the importance of seat belt use.
“This year’s Click It or Ticket campaign was a major success,” said Chief of Police Carlos Garcia. “Through our enforcement efforts, we believe we helped keep community members safe and reminded drivers of the importance of buckling up. Issuing tickets was not our goal, but it was a way to remind people of the importance of such a simple action.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 50% of the passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2021 were unrestrained. During this year’s campaign, NHTSA urged law enforcement nationwide to issue seat belt citations to anyone caught in violation of the law- during the day, and especially at night, when 57% of those killed are unrestrained.
The national seat belt use rate in 2022 was 91.6%. The Click It or Ticket campaign is focusing on the remaining 8.4% who still don’t buckle up. Thousands of lives could be saved each year if every person was properly restrained on the road.
For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit NHTSA. Gov/ciot.
