Click It or Ticket campaign in effect through Memorial Day weekend

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Kentuckians are reminded to buckle up and properly secure children in car or booster seats to keep themselves safe throughout the year and during the “Click It or Ticket” campaign, which runs May 12 to June 1 and includes the Memorial Day holiday.

“It only takes two seconds to fasten your seat belt, and those two seconds could save your life,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “We want everyone to buckle up, every trip. Let’s look out for one another and make sure we all get to where we’re going and come back home, safely.”

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) is joining law enforcement around the state and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the annual federally funded high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort.  

According to the KOHS, of the 707 roadway deaths last year in Kentucky, 471 were killed in motor vehicle crashes, and 47% of them (220) were either not wearing a seat belt or were not properly restrained in a car seat or booster seat. Nine of the 471 deaths were children ages 9 and younger. One of the nine was improperly restrained. 

“Wearing a seat belt is the simplest, most effective way to protect yourself and the people you care about,” stated Transportation Secretary Jim Gray. “Buckling up should be second nature – every time, every ride. It’s a small action that makes a big difference.”

The NHTSA points out that despite typically low traffic volumes at night, fatal crashes nationwide are three times higher during nighttime hours compared to daytime. Of the 471 occupants killed in motor vehicle crashes, at least 185 occurred at night. Of those, more than 90 were unrestrained.

“Every decision behind the wheel matters,” Gray noted. “Our goal is to prevent tragedy before it happens – and sometimes that means taking enforcement action to protect lives.”

According to  the NHTSA, when worn correctly, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45 percent for front-seat vehicle occupants and by 60 percent for pickup truck, SUV and minivan occupants. Properly fastened seat belts contact the body's strongest parts, such as the chest, hips and shoulders. They spread the force of a crash over a wide area of the body, putting less stress on any one part, and allows the body to slow down with the crash.