VCSO Urges Residents To Buckle Up During Seat Belt Enforcement Operation

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Volusia County, FL –The Volusia County Sheriff's Office (VCSO) is urging residents to buckle up as the agency prepares to participate in a nationwide seat belt awareness and enforcement operation. 

From 4 PM to 8 PM on Monday, May 21, VCSO deputies will join the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and various law enforcement agencies across the nation for Border to Border (B2B), a one-day "Click It or Ticket" event targeting drivers not wearing seat belts.  

The event seeks to increase law enforcement participation with a highly visible seat belt enforcement operation at high-traffic state border checkpoints. At these checkpoints, law enforcement, including participating VCSO deputies, will also distribute seat belt fact sheets to drivers.  The B2B event sets the stage for “Click It or Ticket” week, which runs through June 3. 

The VCSO explains that the operation will take place mostly in the evening hours because that is when seat belt use it as its lowest. In 2016, the NHTSA observed that 48% of vehicle passengers killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts. Between the hours of 6 PM and 5:59 AM, that number climbs to 56%.  

The NHTSA also found that compared to females, twice as many males were killed in crashes. Of those males, 52% were not wearing seat belts. On the other hand, 40% of women killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts. 

The event was proven to be a nation-wide success last year when 5,695 citations were written for seat belt and child car seat violations and 14,619 citations were written for other traffic violations. During the B2B event and throughout Click It or Ticket week, law enforcement agencies, such as the VCSO, will take a "no-excuses" approach to seat belt enforcement. 

“If someone in your life doesn’t use a seat belt, please help them realize they’re making a mistake,” said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. “Every trip, every time. And if you’re the one not buckling up, take this opportunity to change your ways. You always think the worst will never happen to you, but when it does, it’s too late.” 

For more information on the "Click It or Ticket" campaign, head to www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.

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