Law enforcement step up seatbelt patrol ahead of Memorial Day

In 2019, 208 people were killed in crashes on Oklahoma roadways who were not using a seatbelt

More than 55 agencies in Oklahoma have signed up to have extra personnel looking for seat belt violations for a Click It or Ticket campaign May 24 through June 6.

“During the Click It or Ticket campaign, we’ll be working with law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure the message gets out to drivers and passengers,” said Director Paul Harris of the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.

Officers will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has stats that show a 50 percent increase in survivability when you wear a seatbelt.

“Wearing a seat belt is the number one thing you can do to help save your life in a crash,” said Commissioner John Scully of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. “Oklahoma law requires front seat passengers to wear their seat belt, but we encourage everyone in the vehicle to buckle up.”