Carteret, NJ – Law enforcement officers from the Carteret Police Department will be cracking down on unbuckled motorists and passengers as part of the national ‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign.
Beginning May 18th and running through May 31st, the annual initiative includes high visibility law enforcement seatbelt checkpoints and saturation patrols, as well as local and national publicity designed to ensure that drivers and passengers recognize the life-saving value of seat belts.
“As long as there are injuries or fatalities where motorists and passengers travel without a seatbelt,” Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman stated, “we will remain committed to the Click It or Ticket initiative, and the safety of those who travel the streets of Carteret.”
Using a seatbelt is the simplest way for a driver and his or her passengers to protect themselves when traveling, according to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. In 2010 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives nationwide.
The front seat belt usage rate in New Jersey currently stands at 91%. New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety officials have noted that the goal for this year’s campaign is to increase the statewide rate to 92%, through enforcement and public outreach efforts that educate all motor vehicle occupants about the importance of buckling up.
This year’s campaign will focus on rear seat passengers, as well. Despite laws requiring adult back seat passengers to buckle up, adult back seatbelt use stands at only 44%.
The annual two-week Click It or Ticket crackdown has resulted in more than 3 million seatbelt citations over the last 5 years alone. That averages approximately a ticket every other second.
“Initiatives like ‘Click it or Ticket’ help raise much needed awareness as to the importance that seatbelts play in keeping drivers safe,” added Borough Councilman Joseph ‘Skippy’ Sitarz. “We expect that we will continue to see the percentage of seatbelt usage rise as a direct result of this campaign.”
