As summer kicks off and families hit the road for vacation, the Chattanooga Police Department is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office to remind motorists to “Click It or Ticket.”
Participating agencies across the state will increase seat belt enforcement May 24-June 6 as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s nationwide mobilization.
“Buckling up is such a simple task that can keep you and your family safe,” says Lt. Daniel Jones. “But it’s more than that. Buckling up is also the law. Our law enforcement officers see the consequences of not buckling up. We see the loss of life. Often, it could have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.”
Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network research shows 403 people were killed in Tennessee traffic crashes last year while not wearing a seat belt. This represents approximately 33% of the state’s total traffic fatalities in 2020.
The NHTSA reports there were 9,466 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the United States in 2019. In that same year, 55% of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6 p.m.-5:59 a.m.) were not wearing seat belts.
Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations both day and night.
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Source: Chattanooga Police Department