2012 Click It or Ticket to Boost Seat Belt Use � Day and Night




University of Houston students, faculty, staff, and visitors � The University of Houston Police Department will be starting the Click It or Ticket campaign this month.

The 2012 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization kicks off May 21 to help save lives by cracking down on those who don�t buckle up. The University of Houston Police Department is joining with other state and local law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates across the country to help save more lives by strongly enforcing seat belt laws around the clock.

Too many drivers and passengers on the road are not wearing their seat belts, and it all too often ends in tragedy. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2010 nationally, 61% of the 10,647 passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes overnight (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crash, compared to 42% during the daytime hours.

Seat belt use saves thousands of lives across America. NHTSA statistics show that in 2010 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives nationwide.

Younger motorists and men are particularly at risk. NHTSA data shows that among teen and young adult passenger vehicle occupants in 2010, ages 18-34, who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes, 62% were not buckled up at the time of the crash � the highest percentage of any age group.

While this year�s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from May 21 through June 3, motorists should know that officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.

�Those who choose not to wear a seat belt will feel the heat from our officers who will be out cracking down on Click It or Ticket violators. Motorists should buckle up every time they go out, both day and night,� said University of Houston Police Department Assistant Chief Katherine Smith. �Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone not buckled up�no warnings and no excuses. Click It or Ticket.�

For more on the national Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.

UHDPS CONTACT: Officer Aaron W. O�Donley, 713-743-0600, aodonley@uh.edu.