Click It or Ticket – something we can all get behind
Unbuckled drivers be warned. Starting July 25, the Colorado Department of Transportation, along with the Colorado State Patrol and 44 local law enforcement agencies began the summer seat belt enforcement period. The Click It or Ticket campaign will run through August 5. A seat belt violation
is a Class B traffic infraction and subject to a $65 fine.
As of July 22, 118 people not wearing seat belts have been killed on Colorado roads. This is up from 113 people at this time last year. Colorado’s seat belt use rate remains stagnant at 86.6%, while the national average has increased to 90%. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash by 50%.
A total of 1,348 seat belt citations have been issued in Colorado this year during Click It or Ticket enforcement periods. Thirty-nine of those citations included tickets for improperly restrained children, which carries stiffer penalties. Castle Rock Police Department has written the highest number of citations at 225.
Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13, and according to NHTSA, 46% of car seats are being used incorrectly. Parents and caregivers can learn more about Colorado child passenger safety laws, recommendations and recalls at CarSeatsColorado.com.
Click It or Ticket is a nationwide campaign from NHTSA. Since Click It or Ticket was introduced in Colorado in 2002, statewide seat belt use has increased from 72% to 86%.
For more information about seat belt safety and enforcement citation numbers, visit SeatBeltsColorado.com.
Information and graphic provided by Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
