Nacogdoches Police Department is joining forces with the Texas Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement agencies throughout Texas to
increase seat belt use in anticipation of summer holiday travel.
Stepped-up enforcement of the state’s seat belt laws from May 23 through June 5 is a key component of the Texas Department of Transportation’s annual Click It or Ticket seat belt safety campaign, which marks its 20th anniversary this year. Officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report that wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of dying in a crash by 45% for people in the front seat of passenger cars. For those in pickups, seat belts reduce the risk of dying in a crash by 60%.
“As people take to the state’s roads and highways to enjoy summer, now is the perfect time to remind drivers and passengers to buckle up,” said Sgt. Brett Ayres, of the Nacogdoches Police Department. “We still see an alarming number of nighttime motorists and pickup truck drivers and passengers who lag behind the rest of the state in seat belt use. The few seconds it takes to fasten your seat belt can mean the difference between life and death in a crash. We never enjoy giving tickets, but if doing so gets someone to buckle up and that saves their life, then it’s worth it.”
According to recent TxDOT crash data, 1,226 people who weren’t wearing their seat belt were killed last year in crashes on Texas roads, a 14% increase. Nighttime is a particularly deadly time. State law requires everyone in a vehicle to buckle up or face fines and court costs of up to $200. Children younger than 8 years must be in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they’re taller than 4 feet 9 inches. If they aren’t properly restrained, the driver faces fines up to $250 plus court costs.
To learn more about Click It or Ticket, visit texasclickitorticket.com.
For media inquiries, contact Sgt. Brett Ayres at ayresb@nactx.us or 936-559-2607
