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Sheriffs department says: Click it or ticket
This March, Clarke County Sheriff's Office will be cracking down on motorists not wearing their seat belts with a special “Click it or Ticket it” enforcement mobilization in an effort to save more lives on Virginia's roadways.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 62 percent of all passenger vehicle occupants killed in fatal crashes in Virginia during 2006 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crash.
The Clarke County Sheriff's Office will be out in force with other state and local law enforcement agencies ticketing all motorists not buckled up on Virginia's roadways. Special seatbelt checkpoints and other stepped-up law enforcement activities will be conducted during a heavy wave of enforcement March 16 through March 22.
“Too many people still take the attitude that it will never happen to me,” Chief Deputy Mike McWilliams said. “But fatal crashes can and do happen every day. We've made a lot of progress, but there are still too many people dying who could have been saved had they been wearing their seat belt.”
McWilliams said this is why they are increasing enforcement, “to ensure that all passengers, in all vehicles, are always buckled up day and night.”
Regular use of seat belts clearly saves lives. The Clarke County Sheriff's Office said regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. Chief Deputy McWilliams said when lap/shoulder belts are worn correctly, seat belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants.
“Unfortunately too many folks in Virginia still need a tough reminder that wearing a seat belt is the absolute best way to protect themselves during a motor vehicle crash, so no more warnings and no excuses for those not buckling up,” McWilliams said.
“Wearing your seat belt costs you nothing, but not wearing it could cost you a ticket, or worse, your life. Please remember to buckle up day and night.”
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