Harford County Begins 'Click It Or Ticket' After 21 Crash Deaths

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — It takes just two seconds to buckle up when going for a drive. But for whatever reason, many people skip this potentially life-saving step, putting themselves at greater risk of dying in a crash. In a campaign that started on Monday, May 20, law enforcement agencies nationwide will scour the roads, keen on busting the estimated 27.5 million unbuckled travelers.

The Harford County Sheriff's Office, Maryland State Police and Baltimore County Police Department set up an enforcement zone near the Baltimore-Harford county line on Monday, May 20.

It's known as "Click It or Ticket." You know the drill. The campaign, which runs through June 2, aims to enforce seat belt use to keep drivers and their passengers safe.

In Harford County, 21 people died in passenger vehicle crashes in 2017, the latest year for which data was available. People without seat belts accounted for one third of the fatalities.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 10,000 unbuckled people died in passenger vehicle crashes in 2017. More than half of those fatal crashes happened at night.

Here are all the fatal 2017 crashes mapped in the Harford County area by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Map courtesy of NTHSA.

SEE ALSO: Maryland State Police Step Up Enforcement Of 2 Laws

— By Dan Hampton and Elizabeth Janney