Seatbelt campaign launches this week

This Thanksgiving, law enforcement agencies statewide are teaming up for the Click It or Ticket seatbelt campaign with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to make sure all motorists are buckled up no matter where they’re headed this holiday season.

The Thanksgiving travel period has always been one of the busiest times on Georgia roads and because of that, GOHS uses it to remind motorists to buckle up not just for the holiday, but 24/7/365. Because holiday fatalities and unbelted crashes continue to occur at unacceptable rates, GOHS makes Click It Or Ticket a Thanksgiving tradition as much as turkey and stuffing. This year, the enforcement campaign runs Nov. 14-27.

During the 2014 Thanksgiving travel period (6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, to 5:59 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 1), 341 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in traffic crashes nationwide. Fifty percent of those killed were not wearing seat belts.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that proper seatbelt use reduces the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers by 45 percent and the risk of moderate to serious injury by 50 percent. In 2014, seatbelts saved the lives of 12,802 passenger vehicle occupants. If seat belt use had been at 100 percent, an additional 2,814 people would still be alive this Thanksgiving.

For more information on Click It or Ticket or any other highway safety programs in Georgia, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org or call 404-656-6996.