Click it or Ticket it!

Click It or Ticket - Day or Night is a national campaign aimed at educating motorists and their passengers on the importance of wearing seatbelts.

Since its inception in 1994, national seat belt usage has risen to an all-time high of 85 percent in 2010. The campaign reinforces the message that wearing a seat belt can save a life or prevent serious injury in the event of an accident.

The focus for this year’s campaign is to raise awareness of the life-saving importance of passengers wearing a seat belt as well as the driver, and will include round-the-clock enforcement, especially at night, to convince more nighttime drivers to buckle up.

On January 18, 2010, legislation was signed into law requiring all occupants to buckle up, regardless of their seating position in a vehicle. All motorists and passengers as well as all passengers under 18 who are not properly restrained in a seat belt or car seat face a $46 fine which is issued to the driver.

“Although most people buckle up for safety,” said Police Chief Craig Handschuch, “this highly publicized law enforcement effort gives motorists and their passengers one more reason to wear a seat belt. The threat of a traffic ticket is a good motivator, but what is most effective is the reminder that a seat belt saves lives!”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research, unrestrained young people and especially males are at risk of dying in vehicle accident. In 2009, 67% of unrestrained 13 - 15 year old passengers were fatally injured, and 66% of men 18 – 34 years were killed in a passenger vehicle accident because they were not wearing a seat belt. Statistics indicate that fewer people buckle their seat belt at night making the evening hours especially dangerous. Sixty-two per cent of fatalities were unrestrained nighttime passenger occupants (11,593 people) compared to 44% of unrestrained passengers killed during daytime hours (6:00 am to 5:59 pm). Of the 23,382 passengers fatally injured, 53% were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. In 2009 alone, passenger seat belts worn by those 5 years and older saved an estimated 12,713 lives nationwide.

“Unfortunately accidents happen,” continued Chief Handschuch. “An unrestrained driver and/or passenger will continue to travel at the same rate of speed as the car they are traveling in until they hit something. Not only are they in danger of serious injury and even death, but they are a danger to others in the vehicle. The single most important thing that a driver or passenger can do is to buckle up. Click it or ticket it’s the law!”

For more information on the Police Department and Community Police activities, go to the Township website: www.livingstonnj.org. Click on Police in the left hand column to access their website. The Police Department is located at 333 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston.