City of Coos Bay release – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is urging drivers to buckle up ahead of a national Click It or Ticket high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort. The Coos Bay Police Department (CBPD) will be participating in the national seat belt campaign, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday and runs from May 20 to June 2, 2024. “We want seat belt use to be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike,” said CBPD Captain Tom Lindahl. “It’s not just a safe thing to do—it’s the law. During the Click It or Ticket campaign, the CBPD will 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.” The national seat belt use rate in 2023 was 91.9%, which is good, but it can be better. The other 8.1% still need to be reminded that seat belts save lives. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night. For more information on the Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization, please visit NHTSA.gov/ClickIt.
