There is no question that seat belts, and seat belt laws, have saved many lives. In fact, according to Elaine L. Chao, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, thousands of lives are saved every year. Keep reading to learn about the upcoming Click It or Ticket national seat belt enforcement campaign, and be sure to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 if you suffer an injury in a car accident and require a legal opinion.
The Basics of Click It or Ticket
Combining enforcement of seat belt laws at state levels, plus an $8 million public awareness campaign on TV, radio, and social media, Click It or Ticket is set to begin again. The ads will start on November 9th and increased enforcement will start on November 16th, both of which will continue through the 29th of the month.
The Deputy Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), James Owens, reminds people that seat belts can save many lives – but only if they are worn. He points out that in 2017 alone, seat belts are estimated to have saved nearly 15,000 lives, and between the years of 2013 and 2017, nearly 70,000 lives were saved by seat belts.
More Seat Belt Stats
According to one study, about half of the nearly 22,700 people killed in fatal car accidents in 2018 were not wearing seat belts. By gender, it broke down to 52% of men killed in car accidents and 39% of women killed in car accidents. The same study found that 92% of women wear seatbelts while just 87.7% of men do.
The stats for younger drivers and passengers are upsetting as well. The study showed that for young adults between the ages of 18 and 34 who died in car accidents in 2018, 58% were not wearing a seatbelt. That is the highest percentage of all age groups. This is why Click It or Ticket targets young men more than any other age group.
Get Ready for a National Seat Belt Awareness Event
The kick off for the enforcement mobilization will once again be the Border to Border initiative. It is a one-day awareness event that is being coordinated by a number of participating states. It will occur on November 16th.
Have You Lost a Loved One in a Car Accident?
If you have been injured in a car accident, or have lost a loved one in an accident, it is worth contacting Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 now for a free legal consultation. We can assess the case, determine what your options are, and provide you with our legal opinion. Call now and we can get started for you right away.
