The Southington Police Department is taking part in Click It or Ticket and is urging residents to buckle up. Beginning on Monday, May 19, law enforcement officials have been out in full force taking part in the enforcement mobilization that is cracking down on motorists who are not belted, driving under the influence or driving distracted.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 52 percent of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.
As noted, deaths involving seat belt nonuse are more prevalent at night than during the daytime. According to NHTSA, 62 percent of the 10,135 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 during the overnight hours of 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.
Seat belts save an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide according to NHTSA.
While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from May 19 through June 1, officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.
For more on the national Click It or Ticket mobilization, visit www.nhtsa.gov.