BOULDER CITY, Nevada -Lake Mead National Recreation Area is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and local law enforcement officers May 18-31as part of the 2015 national Click It or Ticket campaign.
Lake Mead is determined to get the message across: Seat belts save lives. From 2009 to 2013, the NHTSA reported that seat belts saved nearly 63,000 lives, in 2012, and that an additional 3,031 lives could have been saved if all unrestrained occupants involved in fatal crashes had worn their seat belts.
"We've found in the past that May is a very effective time to ramp up seat belt enforcement efforts," said Adam Kelsey, chief ranger."Many people travel to Lake Mead and Lake Mohave over Memorial Day weekend, which kicks off the busy summer season. It's the perfect time to remind everyone why seat belt use is required by law. We want people to know we're not cracking down to write tickets, we're doing it to save lives."
In addition to increased patrols and zero-tolerance enforcement, law enforcement wants to get the right information out to motorists. There are many false notions about seat belts. Pickup truck occupants often think that they don't need to wear their seat belts, because they drive large vehicles that will save them in a crash. The numbers from NHTSA show otherwise: 63 percent of pickup truck occupants who were killed in crashes were not buckled up. That's compared to 43 percent of passenger car occupants who were killed while not wearing their seat belts.
During the Click It or Ticket enforcement period, law enforcement is reminding motorists to wear their seat belt day and night. In 2013, about 59 percent of passenger vehicle occupants were killed during the nighttime hours of 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. who were not wearing their seat belts. More people are being killed in nighttime crashes than ever before, and law enforcement will be targeting nighttime seat belt violators as a result.
Next time drivers head out on the road;Kelsey recommends he or she ensures everyone in the vehicle is buckled up. "Don't just do it to avoid a ticket, do it so you arrive at your destination safely," he said.
If Rangers catch motorists not wearing their seat belt on the road, they will get a ticket. No excuses, no warnings.
"We're hoping you'll get the message and buckle up every trip, every time, even after the crackdown period is over," said Kelsey.
Wearing your seat belt is required by law 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year
Remember, day and night, Click It or Ticket. For more information about the Click It or Ticket campaign visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.
-NPS-
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
