Buckle Up: Concord Police to Beef Up Seat Belt Enforcement

CONCORD, MA – The Concord Police Department will participate in the national Click It or Ticket campaign next week, Chief Joseph O'Connor announced Thursday. This means beefed up enforcement in order to promote seat belt use.

The initiative is organized through the Massachusetts Highway Safety Division and will run from May 8-29.

In Massachusetts, seat belt usage is 78 percent compared to the national average of 90 percent, according to a press release. Of the 172 people killed in car crashes in Massachusetts in 2015, 64 percent were not wearing seat belts, according to the state's annual seat belt observation study.

"Seat belts have been proven to save lives and this campaign is a reminder to the public to wear them whenever you get in a car," O’Connor said in a statement. "We also want to remind residents that we have trained officers that can assist you with installing a child safety seat to ensure that it’s done correctly."

Concord is one of about 200 local departments participating in the campaign, in addition to the Massachusetts State Police.

Anyone with questions or concerns, or who would like to schedule an appointment to have a child seat installed, should contact the Concord Police Department at 978-318-3400.

PHOTO courtesy of CDC