Click It or Ticket enforcement runs through Nov. 29
Traffic Safety Pulse News
On Monday, Nov. 16, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and 34 local law enforcement agencies throughout the state began a two-week Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement period that will run through Sunday, Nov. 29.
So far in 2020, 299 occupants in passenger vehicles have been killed in crashes on Colorado roads. Of those, 160 fatalities (54%) involved unbuckled drivers or passengers even though they represent just 14% of vehicle occupants, according to a recent CDOT survey on seat belt usage. Colorado’s seat belt use rate is 86%, below the national average of 90%.
In 2019, 196 unbuckled drivers and passengers were killed in crashes in the state, accounting for more than half of the 377 total passenger vehicle deaths.
"The Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement serves as a reminder to always buckle up," said Chief Matthew Packard, of the Colorado State Patrol. "Your State Troopers want every driver and passenger to reduce the risk of serious injury, vehicle ejection, or death in the event of a collision on our Colorado roadways. Every citation issued could be a life saved."
An average of an additional 70 lives could be saved each year if Colorado achieved a 100% seat belt use rate, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Seat belt enforcement efforts support CDOT's Whole System — Whole Safety initiative and the agency’s vision to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on our roadways.
“With the holiday travel season approaching, one of the safest choices is to stay home to help limit the spread of COVID-19,” said CDOT Director Shoshana Lew. “If you are traveling by car, whether you’re a driver or passenger, making the quick decision to buckle up is a lifesaving decision.”
The four Colorado counties with the lowest in seat belt use rates are all highly rural: Chaffee, Weld, Pueblo and Cheyenne. All four also recorded lower rates in 2020 than in 2019.
Earlier this year, CDOT launched the Common Bond campaign focused on the one thing that can unite all Coloradoans — seat belt usage. To view the campaign, visit: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c1bu6ktdw79jkoa/AADcw32hHrh1OHNV26mCSWKga?dl=0.
CDOT partnered with CSP troopers to record messages on why buckling up is so important. The videos serve as reminders that seat belt usage is at the heart of every Click It or Ticket enforcement period. To view these videos, visit: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ceqyux447h33z93/AAAi8vTmnKu3NXzzdvt1pE9Pa?dl=0.
This marks CDOT’s first Click It or Ticket enforcement period to take place in November. During the most recent Click It or Ticket enforcement period in July 2020, 1,839 unrestrained drivers and passengers were issued citations across Colorado.
