Click it or Ticket push reminds drivers to buckle up

Arkansas state and local enforcement officers are joining the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in urging drivers to buckle up ahead of the national Click It or Ticket high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort. This campaign coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, running from May 20 to June 2, 2024.

“We want seat belt use to be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike,” said Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar. “It’s not just a safe thing to do — it’s the law. During the Click It or Ticket campaign, the law enforcement community will be working to ensure the message gets out to drivers and passengers. Injuries and lost lives can be prevented by simply wearing a seat belt.”

In 2023, the seat belt use rate in Arkansas was 79.7%, which is well below the national seat belt use rate of 91.9%. The other 20.3% of Arkansas motorists still need to be reminded that seat belts save lives. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night. NHTSA data from 2022 shows that nationally a higher number of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities happen at night (6,252) than during the day (4,949). Seat belt use also differs among females and males. Men make up the majority of those killed in traffic crashes. Of the males killed in crashes in 2022, more than half (54%) were unrestrained. For females killed in crashes, 41% were not buckled up.

No matter who you are, the type of vehicle you’re driving, or the type of road you’re driving on, the best way to stay safe in case of a crash is to wear your seat belt. Unfortunately, many families are suffering because their loved ones refused to follow this simple step. Remember to buckle up: Click It, Don’t Risk It. Seat Belts Save Lives.

For more information on the Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization, please visit NHTSA.gov/ClickIt or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8127, and go to https://www.tzdarkansas.org/ to learn about Arkansas’ Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities.