Virginia launches ‘Click It or Ticket’

-Tracy Bell from press release

Published: May 22, 2008

STAFFORD — In the year 2007, 1,026 people died on Virginia’s roadways, according to preliminary numbers from the Department of Motor Vehicles’ Virginia Highway Safety Office.

The office is teaming up with law enforcement throughout Virginia to educate people about the importance of using seat belts and properly using child safety seats. At the same time, law enforcement continues to encourage people to buckle up, otherwise they’ll receive a ticket, hence the campaign name, “Click It or Ticket.”

Of the 1,026 deaths, 749 of them occurred in vehicles that had safety restraints available, and 60 percent of the 749 people, or 452, were not wearing the seat belts, according to the DMV.

Drivers can be cited in Virginia if they are not wearing a seat belt, if their front-seat passengers are not wearing a seat belt or if any occupants under age 16 are not wearing seat belts or any infants are not properly restrained in a child safety seat.

Virginia garnered its highest amount of roadway fatalities in 2007, according to DMV Commissioner D.B. Smit, who said the goal for seat belt use for Virginia for 2008 is 82 percent, which requires everyone to buckle up.

“…Virginians are known for taking a challenge and exceeding expectations,” Smit said. “I challenge everyone in Virginia to make the commitment to this goal that will reduce the number of fatalities on our roads.”