Buckle Up Day And Night NR10279bb

Los Angeles:  If you’re planning to hit the road for a late spring or early summer getaway, be sure that everyone in the car wears their seat belt on every trip, day and night.  Law enforcement throughout the state, including the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) will be looking for unbelted drivers and passengers as part of the 2010 Click It or Ticket campaign.

“Keep your friends and family safe by buckling up no matter where you’re going,” said Captain Tom McDonald, Commanding Officer, LAPD Emergency Operations Division.  “We will be looking for motorists throughout the area who are not buckling up, day and night.  It’s not just about avoiding a ticket; it’s about keeping the ones you care about alive.”

Seat belt violators will receive citations – no warnings.  The Click It or Ticket campaign relies on heavy enforcement and public education as a means to help save lives on California’s roadways.

“Wearing a seat belt is just simply the easiest and most effective thing you can do on the road to protect yourself and your family,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety.  “That means buckling up day and night, on every trip.”

Currently California has a seat belt usage rate of 95.3 percent, but that still means over half a million people are not buckling up.  Properly restrained drivers, passengers and children have a 50 percent better chance of surviving a crash than unbelted occupants.  Those ejected from vehicles in crashes or roll-overs are up to 35 times more likely to die than restrained occupants.

More than 150 local law enforcement agencies statewide and the CHP will be participating in this year’s Click It or Ticket mobilization.  Funding to support California’s Click It or Ticket campaign was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If you have any questions regarding this news release, please contact Officer Don Inman, Traffic Coordination Section, Emergency Operations Division at (213) 486-0703.