Police to Step Up Seat Belt Enforcement Around Thanksgiving

A "Click It or Ticket" campaign across Illinois is part of a national effort to prevent tragedies and save lives on the highways Nov. 21 to Nov. 27.  State and local law enforcement agencies will be working together and extending their patrol hours to remind motorists to buckle-up, especially during this holiday traffic period. 

"As our roadways become more congested over the Thanksgiving holiday, buckling-up, both day and night, becomes even more important and may mean the difference between a tragedy and a happy holiday,"  said Police Chief Joe Miller

Nightime is the worst for seat belt use according to national statistics collected by NHTSA.

Motorist safety and protection is always a top priority and that's why this Thanksgiving there will be police officers around the state working day and night, to ensure that motorists abide by the law to buckle-up.

Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes, according to NHTSA.  Research has shown that when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants is reduced by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate to serious injury is reduced by 50 percent.