An "all-hands-on-deck approach" is aiming to clamp down on slackers who shun seat belts. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the "Click It or Ticket" campaign is revving up to enforce seat belt usage across state lines until June 2, designated drivers and passengers better strap in or pay up.
A partnership announced by PennDOT, joined by the Pennsylvania State Police and other law enforcement agencies, sets its sights on those who toss caution to the wind and ride without buckling up. "A seat belt can save your life, but only if you use it," Michael J. Rizol, Jr., Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, told PennDOT. "By working alongside our state and federal partners during the annual 'Click It or Ticket' campaign, we reinforce this crucially important safety messaging to the public."
In a vivid display of unity for the cause, the campaign has seen law enforcement teams, including the Delaware State Police and the Phillie Phanatic mascot, make the pitch for seat belt safety. "In 2024, Delaware experienced 17 fatalities resulting from motorists who did not buckle up," Master Corporal Lewis Briggs, DSP Assistant Director of Public Information, stated in a message obtained by PennDOT. With the kick-off of the campaign being the Border-to-Border initiative, they are seeking a home run against preventable deaths.
Violators beware, as PennDOT means business - a seat belt is not just a good idea, it's the law. PennDOT Executive Director Din Abazi made it plain: "Seat belt usage is not an option, it's a legal obligation." In Pennsylvania, if drivers over 18 get pulled over and don’t have their seat belt fastened, they’ll receive an additional ticket to their troubles.
And it's not just about the adults. Pennsylvania pulls no punches with their Primary Seat Belt Law, mandating that drivers and passengers under 18 are buckled up, no matter where they sit in the vehicle. According to PennDOT, children under four must be in approved safety seats, and those under two in a rear-facing car seat until they're too big for it. If you're under eight, you are not getting around that booster seat either.
While seat belt usage hit 91.9 percent in 2023, law enforcement is targeting the stubborn 8.1 percent who are yet to get the message. With 3,736 crashes in Philly alone involving unbuckled passengers or drivers, and 80 lives tragically cut short, the campaign takes a strict no-excuses stance with fines ready for those who flout the rules.
