Law enforcement focuses on seatbelt violations amid national 'Click It or Ticket' campaign

Police throughout the region and the state have joined this year's national "Click It or Ticket" campaign to crack down on seatbelt violations, particularly at night, in hopes of reducing traffic deaths, authorities said.

The California Highway Patrol, along with numerous law enforcement agencies throughout the state, are participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's program. The campaign includes both heightened enforcement and public education efforts.

Officers began the extra enforcement period on Monday. It will continue through June 2, according to the CHP.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) officials said the program includes a special emphasis on wearing seatbelts at night, when more than half of deadly crashes involving unsecured drivers or passengers generally occur, as well as in rural areas.

"Despite steady improvements, more than 11,000 passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2022 were unbelted, and 57% of those killed were unbelted in nighttime crashes," the agency said in written statement.

While 56% of nighttime fatalities in urban areas involved unbelted occupants, rural areas saw a rate of 58%, according to NHTSA data.

NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said a decision not to wear a seatbelt "could be a fatal one."

"While we’ve made progress over the years, seat belt use still varies by time of day, region and demographics," she said. "Through NHTSA’s Click It or Ticket campaign, we’re urging everyone to wear their seat belt, even on short trips or when no other vehicles are on the road."

Unrestrained traffic deaths are most prevalent among people between the ages of 18 and 34, particularly men, officials said.

"In 2022, 63% of passenger vehicle occupants ages 18 (to) 34 who were killed in nighttime crashes were unrestrained," according to the statement. Among men, the rate was even higher at 66%, compared with 57% for women.

Authorities reported a 92% nationwide seat belt use rate.

The Click It or Ticket campaign is backed by an $11.2-million advertising campaign, which includes TV, radio and digital ads in both English and Spanish.

More: CHP to host online hiring seminars as it seeks new officers and dispatchers

More information on the Click It or Ticket campaign can be found online at nhtsa.gov/campaign/click-it-or-ticket.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Law enforcement cracks down on seatbelt violations