‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign begins in earnest

On behalf of Terence Gross of Gross & Schuster, P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Monday, May 21, 2012.

Memorial Day is approaching, and with it brings not only warm weather and backyard barbeques, but also increased travel. Lots of drivers will be on the road, and the sad reality is that some of them will have been drinking.

That makes it all the more important to employ safe practices to avoid car accidents. One thing you can do to protect yourself is to wear a seatbelt, and law enforcement is really hoping drivers do. If they’re caught not wearing one, they could get into a bit of trouble.

The “Click It or Ticket” campaign begins nationally today and runs through June 3. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is planning a two-week campaign beginning today. Escambia County deputies are joining state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as highway safety groups, in promoting the safety campaign. It will run day and night over the two-week period.

Anyone who is under the impression that seatbelts don’t make much difference in terms of safety is sorely mistaken. Of the 10,647 people who died in motor vehicle crashes in 2010, a whopping 61 percent of them were not wearing seatbelts, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

That’s why officers will be on the lookout for any motorists who are not buckled up. So, if you’re traveling over the holiday weekend, think twice before you leave your seatbelt un-clicked. It could not only save you from getting a ticket, but it could save your life.