The Importance of Buckling Up

Why Seat Belts Matter

One of the safest choices drivers and passengers can make is to buckle up. Whether you’re driving a short distance or embarking on a long trip, wearing a seat belt can significantly reduce the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a crash.

Proper Seat Belt Fit

Ensuring your seat belt fits correctly is crucial:

• The shoulder belt should lay flat across the middle of your chest and away from your neck.
• The lap belt should fit snugly across your hips, not your stomach.
• Never put the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm.

Defense Against Danger

Seat belts are your best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers. In a crash, being buckled up helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle. The seat belt slows you down and spreads crash forces over the strongest parts of your body.

Current Seat Belt Use

While seat belt use has increased over the years, there’s still a significant issue to address. Seat belt usage varies by time of day, seating position, and region of the United States. Despite steady increases in observed seat belt use, approximately half of all passenger vehicle deaths involve unrestrained occupants.

The Consequences of Not Buckling Up

Ejection from the Vehicle

Not buckling up can result in being completely ejected from the vehicle in a crash, which is almost always fatal.

Improper Seat Belt Use

Wearing a seat belt improperly, such as putting the strap below your arm, puts you and your children at risk in a crash.

Air Bags Are Not Enough

Air bags are not a substitute for seat belts. In fact, the force of an air bag can seriously injure or even kill you if you’re not buckled up.

Enforcement Saves Lives

High-Visibility Enforcement

High-visibility enforcement is a proven method for encouraging people to buckle up. When drivers and passengers see police enforcing traffic laws, they are more likely to comply.

The Role of Citations

Click It or Ticket is not about issuing citations but about saving lives and preventing serious injuries. A citation serves as an effective reminder of the importance of a simple, life-saving measure—buckling up.

Community Safety

Enforcement efforts help keep community members safe and remind drivers of the critical importance of buckling up every time they are on the road.

Click It or Ticket: Buckle Up for Safety

Joining the Click It or Ticket campaign means supporting a life-saving initiative. By reminding others to buckle up and understanding the importance of seat belt safety, we can work together to reduce injuries and fatalities on our roads. Remember, every trip, every time—buckle up!