The Arkansas law enforcement community is joining forces with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to launch the annual Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement effort. This national seat belt campaign aims to raise awareness and increase seat belt usage during the Memorial Day holiday period, running from May 22 to June 4.
Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar emphasized the importance of seat belt use for both drivers and passengers. He stressed buckling up is not only the safe thing to do but also the law. During the Click It or Ticket campaign, law enforcement officers from local and state agencies will collaborate to ensure the message reaches as many individuals as possible. The goal is to make wearing seat belts an automatic habit for everyone, ultimately preventing unnecessary injuries and saving lives in the event of a crash.
The NHTSA’s statistics reveal the grim consequences of neglecting seat belt usage. In 2021, a staggering 11,813 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants lost their lives in accidents across the United States. Of those fatalities, 57% occurred at night, between 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m., where the absence of seat belt usage was prevalent. Recognizing the significance of nighttime safety, the Click It or Ticket campaign will place a strong emphasis on enforcement during these hours, ensuring that drivers and passengers buckle up.
Arkansas experienced 228 motorists losing their lives in 2021 due to not wearing their seat belts. Furthermore, NHTSA data reveals a gender disparity in seat belt usage, indicating that females exhibit higher compliance rates compared to males. Males accounted for nearly twice as many crash fatalities as females in 2021. Among the males killed,54% were unrestrained and among females, 42% were found to be unbuckled during fatal crashes.
Colonel Hagar expressed his hope that the Click It or Ticket campaign would serve as a wake-up call to those who underestimate the importance of seat belt use. He urged the public to spread the lifesaving message and encouraged individuals to address the issue with friends and family who may not regularly wear their seat belts.
To learn more about the Click It or Ticket mobilization, individuals can visit NHTSA.gov/ciot. Additionally, the Arkansas Highway Safety Office can be contacted at (501) 618-8136. Further information about Arkansas’ Toward Zero Deaths campaign, which aims to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities, can be found at https://www.tzdarkansas.org/.
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