Blog: KPD News & Alerts

KPD Increases Seat Belt Enforcement During National “Click It or Ticket” Mobilization

As summer kicks off and families hit the road for vacation, the Knoxville Police Department is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) to remind motorists to “Click It or Ticket.” From May 24 through June 6, participating agencies across the state will increase seat belt enforcement as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) nationwide mobilization.

“Buckling up is the simplest action that one can take to keep you and your family safe while you are on the road,” said KPD Chief of Police Eve Thomas. “Buckling up is the law and there is a reason for that. However, the consequences of not buckling up can extend well beyond a traffic citation. Our officers see those consequences, which are tragic more often than not. We want to avoid these tragedies by reminding everyone to buckle up every single time they get into a vehicle.”

According to Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network (TITAN), 403 people killed in Tennessee traffic crashes last year were not wearing a seat belt. This represents approximately 33 percent of the state’s total traffic fatalities in 2020.

According to NHTSA, in 2019, there were 9,466 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the United States. In that same year, 55 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6 p.m. – 5:59 a.m.) were not wearing seat belts. That’s why one focus of the “Click It or Ticket” campaign is nighttime enforcement. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations both day and night.

For more information about seat belt safety, visit www.tntrafficsafety.org.

Posted by serland On 24 May, 2021 at 2:36 PM