Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement begins May 18

OHSP reminds drivers, passengers to remain protected by buckling up

To emphasize the significance of sporting seat belts, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) proclaims a “Click It or Ticket” enforcement marketing campaign, operating from May 18–31.

During the two-week interval—which incorporates Memorial Day weekend—the Michigan State Police (MSP), together with officers from native and county police companies throughout the state, will likely be actively conducting seat belt enforcement.

In 2024, a complete of 222 individuals who have been killed in site visitors crashes died as a result of they weren’t sporting their seat belt, in line with the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

“Each year for the last five years, Michigan has lost more than 200 people in crashes where a seat belt could have saved a life,” mentioned Alicia Sledge, OHSP director. “As the temperatures rise and summer travel picks up on our busy roadways, we’re reminding everyone to buckle up, no matter how short the trip.”

Other Michigan seat belt crash statistics embrace:
• Of the 222 fatalities in 2024, 202 automobile occupants have been killed whereas not sporting seat belts within the entrance seat, 12 within the rear seat and eight in one other or unknown seating place.
• From 2020 to 2024, of these occupants killed in crashes who weren’t sporting seat belts, 858 have been male and 313 have been feminine.

Michigan has a major seat belt legislation, which implies a police officer can cease and ticket a motorist solely for not sporting a seat belt. It is estimated that greater than 1,900 lives have been saved since 2015 as a result of Michigan’s major seat belt legislation.

The “Click It or Ticket” enforcement marketing campaign is a part of the SAFER by 2030 initiative, a collaborative effort by state companies and site visitors security companions to dramatically enhance street security by decreasing fatalities on Michigan roadways by 30 p.c by the yr 2030.

“Thousands of people die on our roads each year nationally because they chose not to wear a seat belt,” mentioned Michigan State Police Inspector Patrick Daugherty, chair of the SAFER by 2030 Committee. “With high-visibility enforcement efforts like ‘Click It or Ticket’ and public awareness campaigns about the importance of wearing seat belts, we’re working to make sure all Michiganders know about the lifesaving benefits of buckling up each time they get on the road.”

More details about seat belt utilization and Michigan’s seat belt legal guidelines might be discovered on OHSP’s web site.