The Kosciusko County Traffic Safety Partnership is teaming up with law enforcement from across the state to urge to buckle up ahead of a national Click It or Ticket high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort.
The national seat belt campaign, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, runs from May 20 to June 2, according to a news release. The overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).
“We want seat belt use to be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike,” said ICJI Traffic Safety Director James Bryan. “Buckling up is the simplest thing you can do to limit injury or save your life during a crash.”
Indiana’s seat belt use rate in 2023 was 93.2%, which is good — but it can be better, according to the release. The other 6.8% still need to be reminded that seat belts save lives.
Research has repeatedly demonstrated the safety benefits of seat belts. Buckling up can reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash by up to 65%. Without a seat belt fastened, people can be ejected from a vehicle and killed.
“If the enforcement effort alerts people to the dangers of unrestrained driving, we’ll consider our mission to be a success,” said Craig Allebach, Kosciusko County Traffic Safety Partnership grant administrator. “If you know a friend or a family member who does not buckle up when they drive, please ask them to consider changing their habits. Help us spread this lifesaving message before one more friend or family member is killed as a result of this senseless inaction. Seat belts save lives, and everyone — front seat and back, child and adult — needs to remember to buckle up.”
For more information on the Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization, visit NHTSA.gov/ClickIt.