Avalon Police to Participate in ‘Click It or Ticket’

AVALON — Law enforcement officers from the Avalon Police Department will be cracking down on unbuckled motorists and their passengers as part of the national “Click it or Ticket” campaign.
“This is a positive way to inform Avalon residents and visitors that seat belts save lives”, said Avalon Police Chief David Dean. “We expect to see a big increase in motor vehicles on Avalon roads during this period, and our officers will remind motorists that it’s in everyone’s best interest for drivers, and passengers, to buckle up, all year long”.
Beginning May 24 and running through June 6, the annual initiative includes high visibility law enforcement seat belt checkpoints and saturation patrols, as well as local and national publicity designed to ensure that drivers and passengers recognize the life-saving value of seat belts.
“Using a seat belt is the simplest way for a motorist and his or her passengers to protect themselves when on the road,” said Pam Fischer, Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “Motor vehicle occupants who buckle-up are between 45 and 75 percent less likely to face life threatening injuries in a car crash.”
Last year, the front seat belt usage rate in New Jersey rose for the 13th consecutive year to 92.67%. Fischer noted that while front seat belt usage rates continue to increase in New Jersey, law enforcement and safety officials will not rest until the state achieves a 100 percent compliance rate.
“Sometimes, we all need a reminder about the safety and importance of buckling up”, Chief Dean said. “This campaign is about reminding the public about seat belt use, and creating new habits for drivers and passengers who do not use seat belts”.
“New Jersey has one of the strongest front seat belt usage rates in the nation, but our work isn’t done,” Fischer said. “To meet our goal, we must continue to focus on enforcement and public outreach efforts to educate motorists and their passengers about the critical importance of buckling up, every ride.”
Fischer added that for the first time, the campaign will focus on rear seat passengers as well. New legislation requiring adult rear seat passengers to buckle up became law earlier this year. Currently, adult back seat belt use stands at 32 percent.
During the 2009 Click it or Ticket” campaign, 443 police agencies participated in the two-week initiative. As a result of the effort, law enforcement officers issued 41,442 seat belt citations, 6,833 speeding summonses and made 866 drunk driving arrests.