Florida Buckling Down on Rural Drivers and Passengers Not Buckled Up Through Special Click It or Ticket Enforcement Blitz This May
In an effort to save lives in DeFuniak Springs, DeFuniak Springs Police will join forces with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and State and local highway safety and law enforcement leaders across the State of Florida to conduct a special high-visibility Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign this May.
Beginning May 17, the campaign, which will take place in addition to Florida’s traditional Click It or Ticket enforcement during the Memorial Day holiday, will buckle down on all motorists not buckling up – but especially those in rural areas.
The enforcement blitz is in response to recent NHTSA findings that, although nearly a quarter of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, fatal crashes in those rural areas account for more than half of all traffic fatalities.
We’re going to send the Click It or Ticket message out loud and clear, to all drivers and passengers. In Florida during 2008, of the 1,727 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities that occurred, 44 percent occurred in a rural area.
In addition, low seat belt use in pickup trucks, particularly, is a serious problem. In Florida, 72 percent of pickup truck occupants killed in a traffic crash was not restrained at the time of the crash.
Seat belts clearly save lives, but unfortunately too many drivers in Florida and particularly those in our city, still need a tough reminder. So this May, we’re committed to doing everything we can to convince drivers that regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.
Just remember. No more warnings. No more excuses. No matter who you are or where you are on the road, but especially in Florida’s rural areas, if you don’t want to risk a ticket—or more importantly, your life—Click It or Ticket.”
Stepped-up law enforcement activities will be conducted during the 2010 Click It or Ticket mobilization period from May 17 – June 6. The DeFuniak Springs Police will be holding a Comprehensive Roadside Checkpoint on May 28th within the city limits of DeFuniak Springs between the hours of 7:00 p.m. – 11 p.m. and will have extra officers on duty May 17th through June 6th looking for Seat Belt violators.
To learn more about the Click It or Ticket campaign and the lifesaving benefits of wearing your seat belt, please visit www.nhtsa.gov. If you have any question about the DeFuniak Springs Police's position on this subject please contact Officer Richard Heming at (850) 892-8511 or hemingrw@defuniakspringspolice.net.
* According to NHTSA, all numbers and percentages referencing belted or unbelted fatalities are based on “Known Usage.”
