Highway Safety Office
Click It or Ticket is a nationwide enforcement campaign designed to increase safety belt use and subsequently reduce highway fatalities. The mobilization is conducted annually by the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) in conjunction with law enforcement agencies, state highway safety offices, and traffic safety advocates. The campaign encourages all motorists to always buckle up—every time, day and night.
When used correctly, safety belts reduce the risk of injury and death by about 70%, according to the NHTSA. In fact, in 2007, unbuckled motorists were 20 times more likely to die than buckled motorists involved in crashes on Utah’s roads.
The goal of the campaign is not to give out tickets, but to increase the number of motorists who buckle up. Ultimately, if more people chose to use safety belts we would see fewer fatalities and injuries, cost savings to taxpayers and a decrease in the number of high risk drivers on our roads.
WHO STILL ISN’T BUCKLING UP?
Risk Takers – Drivers most at risk of serious crashes tend to be those who use safety belts less often. A University
of North Carolina study showed that unbuckled drivers are more likely to be male, have less education, have
many traffic violations on their records (DUI, speeding, etc.), and have no health insurance.
Nighttime Drivers – Research shows that nighttime driving is much more dangerous than daytime driving and that
safety belt use at night is lower. In Utah, people in crashes during the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. were 2.2
times less likely to be buckled than people in crashes during the rest of the day. Crashes that involve alcohol,
speed and fatigue also increased during the nighttime hours. In fact, crashes occurring at night (10 p.m. to 4 a.m.)
were 6.6 times more likely to involve impaired driving than crashes during the day.
Young Adults and Teens – Young people 16 to 24 years old were reported to have the lowest observed safety
belt usage rate of any other age group. They also have the highest crash rate per licensed driver.
Child Passengers of Unbuckled Drivers – Research also shows that people who don’t buckle up are less likely
to require their children to buckle up. A study conducted by the National Safety Council found that child
passengers of adults who were unbuckled were also unbuckled in 75% of the cases.
NO MORE EXCUSES — CLICK IT OR TICKET
High-Visibility Enforcement – The proven power of stepped-up law enforcement activities will take center stage during the annual Click It or Ticket mobilization in May and during the Thanksgiving Holiday Season.
A “Round the Clock” Campaign – To convince more nighttime motorists to buckle up, the mobilization will include both day and night enforcement activities. And remember, your best defense against a drunk driver is to buckle up.
A Joint Effort – Utah’s law enforcement community is joining with hundreds of other State and local law enforcement and highway safety officials across the Nation for Click It or Ticket to enforce seat belt laws and reduce highway fatalities.
Always Remember – Click It or Ticket both day and night, unless you want to risk a ticket, or worse
— your life.
QUESTIONS?
For more information, please contact
Keri Gibson
Occupant Protection
Utah Highway Safety Office
(801) 243-7571