Lake County looks to save lives with Click It or Ticket mobilization

EUSTIS – With the 2012 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization set to kick-off on May 21, the Lake County Community Traffic Safety Team is joining with state and local law enforcement agencies, and highway safety advocates to help save lives through around-the-clock enforcement of seat belt laws.

Motorists in Lake County are urged to buckle up every time they get into a vehicle, both day and night. Those who choose not to wear a seat belt will be stopped by officers and issued a citation. No warnings will be issued.

“Too many drivers and passengers on the road at night are not wearing their seat belts, and it all too often ends in tragedy,” said Tom McKane, Chairman of the Lake County Community Traffic Safety Team. “Our goal is to save more lives, so law enforcement will be out enforcing seat belt laws around the clock.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010 nationally, 61 percent of the 10,647 passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes overnight (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crash, compared to 42 percent during the daytime hours.

For more on the national Click It or Ticket mobilization, visit www.nhtsa.gov. For more information on the Lake County Community Traffic Safety Team, call Cheryl Sutherland at 352-483-9048 or email csutherland@lakecountyfl.gov.