Front Royal Police Department is reminding us to wear seatbelts through their Click It or Ticket Campaign

As you drive the roads the next two weeks around Memorial Day, you will likely see more law enforcement patrolling the streets. The Front Royal Police Department is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration by participating in the Click It or Ticket Campaign, which started on May 24^th and goes through June 6^th. This serves as a reminder to drivers and their passengers of the importance of wearing seatbelts, as well as the legal consequences and fines for failing to do so.

The Click It or Ticket campaign is not about writing citations, it is about saving lives. Wearing your seatbelt is the most effective protection for you and your loved ones against reckless, distracted, and impaired drivers. In 2019, nearly 10,000 unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants were killed across the country, and it is estimated that over 15,000 lives were saved by seatbelt use.

Seatbelts save lives, but only if they are worn, and worn properly. Make sure the lap belt goes across your hips, not your stomach. And ensure that the shoulder belt is across the middle of your chest and shoulder, away from your neck. Never place the shoulder strap behind your back or under your arm.

Remember that your kids are watching. If you are not wearing your seatbelt, it sends the message to your kids that they do not need to wear a seatbelt either. Virginia law states that anyone under the age of 18 must be properly restrained in a seatbelt or child safety seat, regardless of their position in the vehicle, and it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that this happens. Additionally, any front seat passenger, age 18 or older, can be given their own citation if not properly restrained.

To learn more about the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.