November 13, 2023
This Thanksgiving holiday, Arkansas law enforcement is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on a high-visibility Click It or Ticket seat belt awareness campaign. From November 20 – November 26, law enforcement agencies will be working together to reduce the number of fatalities that occur when vehicle passengers fail to buckle up. Law enforcement officers will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations both day and night to save lives.
During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2021 (6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24, to 5:59 a.m. on Monday, November 29), there were 361 passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes across the nation. Of these fatalities, half (50%) were unrestrained. Additionally, not wearing a seat belt proved to be deadly at any time of the day during the holiday weekend: 52% of those killed in nighttime crashes were unbuckled, and 46% of those killed in daytime crashes also were unbuckled. These deaths represent needless tragedies for families across America and may have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.
“Buckle your seat belt to stay safe and obey the law,” said Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar. “Whether you’re driving cross-country or across town, whether it is day or night, it is essential that you wear a seat belt. It’s your best defense if involved in a crash and may mean the difference between life and death. This Thanksgiving, and every day of the year, remember: Click It. Don’t Risk It.”
The Click It or Ticket campaign is designed to save lives by making sure all Arkansas drivers and passengers get the message to wear their seat belts. Don’t risk a ticket this holiday season, or worse your life, by not wearing a seat belt. Click It or Ticket.
For more information about traveling safely this Thanksgiving, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136. To learn more about Arkansas’ ongoing Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities, visit www.TZDArkansas.org or follow TZD Arkansas on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (X).
Additional Information Contact:
ASP Highway Safety Office – Bridget White
(501) 618-8230
asp.pio@asp.arkansas.gov
