Everyone in every car and truck on Texas roads should fasten their seat belts — that was the message from area public safety officials at a press conference launching a Click It or Ticket campaign this week ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
According to a news release from the Texas Department of Transportation, wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of death in a crash by up to 60%. But as easy and effective as it can be to strap yourself in, millions of people in Texas still skip this simple step and risk their lives.
In 2023, 1,183 people who were not wearing their seat belts were killed in crashes on Texas roads. Even one preventable death on the road is too many, so as part of the annual Click It or Ticket campaign, TxDOT is traveling the state urging Texans to take the extra few seconds to fasten their seat belts next time they find themselves in a traffic situation. vehicle. It could save their life or the life of a loved one.
To add extra motivation, Texas law enforcement will ramp up enforcement of the state’s seat belt laws from May 20 through June 2, including Memorial Day weekend. Texas law requires everyone in a vehicle to fasten their seat belt or face fines and court fees of up to $200. Children under 8 years old must be in a child seat or booster seat unless they are taller than 4 feet. If they are not properly strapped in, the driver faces fines of up to $250, plus court costs.
Click It or Ticket is a key part of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth campaign encouraging drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel to help end the string of daily deaths. November 7, 2000 was the last immortal day on Texas roads.
This article originally appeared in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: TxDOT promotes Click It or Ticket campaign in Lubbock
