Starting May 20 and running through June 2, Rockland County Police Departments, Sheriff Patrol, and NYS Police will participate in the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign. This initiative, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, aims to enforce seatbelt usage among motorists. During this period, additional officers will be on patrol to ensure compliance with seatbelt laws.
The “Click It or Ticket” campaign is a nationwide effort to highlight the importance of wearing seatbelts. Authorities remind the public that seatbelts save lives and emphasize the legal requirement to buckle up whenever in a vehicle.
Important Reminders:
- Buckle Up: One of the safest choices drivers and passengers can make is to always wear a seatbelt.
- All Trips: Wear seatbelts on both short and long trips.
- Proper Fit:
- The shoulder belt should lie flat across the middle of your chest and away from your neck.
- The lap belt should fit across your hips, not your stomach.
- Never place the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm.
- Defense Against Dangers: Seatbelts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers. In a crash, being buckled up helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle by slowing you down and spreading crash forces over the strongest parts of your body.
Despite progress in increasing seatbelt use, challenges remain. Seatbelt usage varies by time of day, seating position, and region of the United States. Alarmingly, about half of all passenger vehicle deaths involve unrestrained occupants.
Consequences of Not Buckling Up:
- Safety and Security: Buckling up keeps you safe inside your vehicle. Not buckling up can lead to being ejected from the vehicle during a crash, which is almost always fatal.
- Proper Usage: Improperly wearing a seatbelt, such as placing the strap below your arm, endangers both you and your children in a crash.
- Airbags: Airbags alone are insufficient protection. The force of an airbag can cause serious injury or death if you’re not properly buckled up.
Rockland County law enforcement urges all drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts at all times. Remember, it’s not just a good practice—it’s the law.