Maine Bureau of Highway Safety is urging drivers to buckle up Every Trip, Every Time, but especially during the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) national Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement and education campaign. The national seat belt campaign, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, runs from May 22 to June 4, 2023.

“Summer is fast approaching and that means more motorists, including visitors from out of state, driving on Maine roads,” said Lauren Stewart, Highway Safety Director, in a joint news release. “One easy way to protect yourself and your passengers, in the event of a crash, is to ensure that everyone is buckled up, and riding in an age-appropriate child safety seat. Always remember to buckle you and your children in age-appropriate restraints, and remember, never buy, or sell a used car seat. Your precious cargo deserves the safest seat.”

According to NHTSA, in 2021, there were 11,813 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the United States. In that same year, 57% of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6 p.m. - 5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their 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 day and night. In Maine, the fine for not wearing your seat belt is $50 for the first offense and increases with each subsequent offense.

“We want seat belt use to be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike,” said Deputy Chief Small. “It’s not just a safe thing to do — it’s the law. During the Click It or Ticket campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure the message gets out to drivers and passengers. Buckling up is the simplest thing you can do to limit injury or save your life during a crash. We see the results of not wearing a seat belt all the time. We see the loss of life. So often, it could have been prevented. Change your mindset and change your life.”

The chart below shows the number of unrestrained fatalities that Maine has seen between 2020 and 2022.

More than half of these fatalities (52%) were aged 45 years and older. Out of the 250 male fatalities, 126 (50%) were unbelted.

“No matter the type of vehicle you’re driving in or the type of road you’re driving on, the safest way to stay safe in case of a vehicle crash is to wear your seat belt,” said Deputy Chief Small. “Unfortunately, many families are suffering because their loved ones refused to follow this simple step. It is the little things that make the biggest difference so take a moment to buckle up.”

“If the enforcement effort alerts people to the dangers of unrestrained driving, we’ll consider our mission to be a success,” said Deputy Chief Small. “If you know a friend or a family member who does not buckle up when they drive, please ask them to consider changing their habits. Help us spread this lifesaving message before one more friend or family member is killed as a result of not buckling up. Seat belts save lives, and everyone — front seat and back, child and adult — needs to remember to buckle up.”

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit NHTSA.gov/ciot.