‘Click it or Ticket’ safety campaign underway

The Illinois State Police, ISP, and Illinois Department of Transportation, IDOT, are teaming up with more than 500 local law enforcement agencies to conduct aggressive safety belt enforcement efforts throughout the State of Illinois.

During the Memorial Day “Click it or Ticket” mobilization, which began May 15 and continues through May 31, motorists can expect an increase in nighttime enforcement with more than 180 enforcement zones in addition to the more than 400 daytime safety belt enforcement zones conducted by law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

During the May mobilization, Illinois agencies will also be coordinating with their Missouri and Iowa counterparts to increase traffic safety within their respective states.

“The Click It or Ticket campaign has proven to be a success every year and this time will be no different,” said IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig.

“We are doing everything we can to convince motorists to buckle up every trip, every time to continue to save lives on Illinois roadways.”

An annual survey found that safety belt usage in Illinois increased from 88 percent in 2006 to 90.5 percent in 2008.

IDOT officials also report a reduction in the number of fatalities from 1,254 in 2006 to 1,043 in 2008. As of May 10, the provisional number of fatalities in 2009 was 271.

State officials noted that wearing a safety belt is the most effective way to reduce injuries and fatalities in a crash because it provides protection from being ejected and keeps motorists from smashing into windshields, dashboards and other passengers.