The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is conducting its annual Click It or Ticket campaign, May 19-June 1, 2014. The event promotes proper use of seat belts as law enforcement officials lead high-visibility implementation of seat belt laws during both daytime and nighttime hours. Enforcement during the nighttime is urged because seat belt use is neglected more often at night.
The Center for Disease Control s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report advocates the campaign and illustrates the preventive potential of seat belt adherence. According to the federal agency, In 2012, approximately 21,000 passenger vehicle occupants died in motor vehicle crashes in the United States; 52% were unrestrained at the time of the crash. Overall seat belt use across the nation climbed to 86% in the same year, however progress is still needed as residents continue to travel unrestrained. The value of these safety measures rests in the numbers: if all residents wore seat belts, an additional 3,031 lives would have been saved, along with the 12, 174 lives saved due to seat belt use in 2012.
ACSH s Dr. Elizabeth Whelan says The fact that the majority of Americans are now wearing seat belts is a very encouraging statistic. However, more must be done to highlight this important action, as seat belts are the most effective way to prevent injury and death in the event of an accident. There is absolutely no reason why this number shouldn t be at 100 percent and hopefully this campaign increases awareness about the fact that seat belts can save lives.