Motorists who refuse to wear their safety belt – beware. The 2012 Illinois Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement campaign kicks off May 11 to help save lives by cracking down on those who do not buckle up through the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
The Will County Sheriff’s Office is joining the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Police (ISP) and over 500 local law enforcement agencies across the state to save more lives by strongly enforcing safety belt laws around the clock.
Provisional numbers show that during the 2011 Memorial Day weekend there were 13 fatalities and over 700 injuries on Illinois roadways. Six of those fatalities were alcohol-related. Remember – wearing your safety belt is your best defense against an impaired driver.
Nationwide in 2010, 61 percent of the 10,647 passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes overnight (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their safety belts at the time of the fatal crash. This compared to 42 percent during the daytime hours, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
"Too many drivers and passengers on the road at night are not wearing their safety belts, and it all too often ends in tragedy," said
Sgt. Steve Byland. "Our goal is to save more lives, so the Will County Sheriff’s Office will be out enforcing safety belt laws around the clock."
During 2010 in Illinois, an average of over 17 unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants were killed in crashes each hour between midnight and 3:59 am, compared to an average of less than 10 per hour who were unrestrained and killed during daytime crashes.
Safety belts save thousands of lives across America each year and the Will County Sheriff’s Office is helping spread the word. NHTSA statistics show that in 2010 alone, safety belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives nationwide.
Yet, too many motorists may need a tough reminder. In 2010, 22,187 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in motor vehicle crashes, according to NHTSA, and 51 percent of them were not wearing safety belts at the time of their fatal crashes.
Men are particularly at risk. In 2010, 66 percent of male teen and young adult (18-34 years-old) passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes were not buckled up at the time of the crash – the highest percentage of any age group, according to NHTSA.
"Those who choose not to wear a safety belt will feel the heat from our officers who will be out cracking down on Click It or Ticket violators. Motorists should buckle up every time they go out, both day and night," said [Local LE Agency Spokesperson]. "Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone not buckled up…no warnings and no excuses. Click It or Ticket."
Remember-May is Click It or Ticket time. Buckle up and encourage your loved ones to do the same. You will save the cost of a ticket and may save a life.
For more information about the Click It or Ticket campaign, please visit www.buckleupillinois.org.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
In that spirit and in conjunction with National Police Week, the Will County Sheriff's Office, Joliet Police Department, Illinois State Police, and area municipal police departments will present a moving ceremony dedicated to area officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The ceremony will be held Thursday, May 10, 2012 beginning with a memorial mass at 10:30am at St. Mary Magdalene Church, 201 S. Briggs Street in Joliet. Following the mass a procession will take place to the Will County Courthouse where the law enforcement memorial monument stands on the north lawn. The Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony will take place at Noon.
The ceremony is open to the public. All are welcome.
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