‘Click it or Ticket’ campaign kicks off in New Jersey

On Monday, law enforcement agencies throughout the country kicked off the annual “Click it or Ticket” campaign, an initiative aimed at getting all Americans to wear their seat belts.

Police departments in New Jersey said that the campaign, which runs through June 1, will involve seat belt checkpoints and a greater number of patrols on the road. Police will be taking a zero-tolerance approach to the seatbelt law enforcement, they said.

At the same time, safety groups will raise public awareness on the importance of seatbelt use. 

“Using a seat belt is the simplest way for a driver and his or her passengers to protect themselves when traveling,” said the acting director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, adding that seatbelts saved the lives of more than 12,000 people nationwide in 2010 alone.

Even though most states have enacted laws requiring seatbelt usage, there are still some drivers who choose not to wear a seatbelt. Oftentimes, it is misinformation that leads motorist to think they don’t need to buckle up.

On its website devoted to the Click it or Ticket campaign, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration dispels a few common seatbelt myths:

Myth No. 1: You don’t need a seatbelt if you aren’t traveling far or fast.

Myth No. 2: You don’t need to wear a seatbelt if your car has airbags.

Myth No. 3: Your seatbelt can actually hurt you in an accident.

If any of these myths are keeping you from not wearing a seatbelt while driving or riding as a passenger, it’s time to face reality: Seatbelts save lives.

Source: NJ.com, “Click it or Ticket: Cops looking out for seat belt violations in Morris and Somerset,” Louis C. Hochman, May 20, 2014