As we approach Memorial Day, local law enforcement is doubling down on a message that could save your life: buckle up. The Governor's Highway Safety Program has rolled out its annual "Click It or Ticket" campaign. From today until June 1, officers will be on the lookout for drivers and passengers skirting the N.C. Seat Belt Law, enforcing the simple act of fastening a seatbelt.
In a statement published by NCDOT, GHSP Director Mark Ezzell made the stakes clear: "Never hesitate to buckle your seatbelt—it could be the difference between life and death." A chilling reminder, considering the 492 unbuckled drivers who lost theirs lives in N.C. car crashes in 2023.
Besides encouraging motorists to take that crucial click, the campaign brings heightened patrols. They are not just a show of force but a means to actively reinforce the law and, ideally, change behavior. It’s a response rooted in sobering statistics - already this year, 158 people not wearing seat belts have died on North Carolina roads.
While the aim of the "Click It or Ticket" initiative is always to prevent tragedies, its urgency is underscored by these figures, reminding us that the risk of ignoring a seemingly inconsequential 'click' is all too real, as per NCDOT.
