By Chadron Police Department
Chadron, NE — This Thanksgiving holiday, the Chadron Police Department is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on a high-visibility Click It or Ticket seat belt awareness campaign. From November 20 to November 27, the law enforcement community will be working together to reduce the number of fatalities that occur when vehicle passengers fail to buckle up. If they spot you, they will pull you over and issue a ticket.
During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2021 (6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24, to 5:59 a.m. on Monday, November 29), there were 361 passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes across the nation. Half (50%) were unrestrained. Not wearing a seat belt proved to be deadly at any time of the day during the holiday weekend: 52% of those killed in nighttime crashes were unbuckled, and 46% of those killed in daytime crashes also were unbuckled. These deaths represent needless tragedies for families across America and may have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.
“Buckle your seat belt to stay safe and to stay legal,” said Sgt. Chelsey Stolley. “Whether you’re driving cross-country or across the street, whether it is day or night, it is essential that you wear a seat belt. The bottom line is this: That seat belt may very well mean the difference between life and death. This Thanksgiving, and every day of the year, remember: Click It or Ticket.”
In Chadron, the law requires “The driver, each front-seat occupant in the vehicle and all children six years of age and less than 18 years of age must wear occupant protection systems and all occupant protection systems worn are properly adjusted and fastened. All persons being transported by a motor vehicle operated by a holder of a provisional operator's permit or a school permit shall use occupant protection systems worn are properly adjusted and fastened. This is a secondary law, which means the driver is cited for this violation only if cited or charged with an additional violation or some other offense. The violation shall be assessed against the driver of vehicle result in a $25.00 fine.”
For more information about traveling safely this Thanksgiving, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts.