VIENNA, VA – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in conjunction with law enforcement agencies and state highway safety offices, began their “Click It or Ticket” campaign, a nationwide seat belt enforcement mobilization to crack down on low seat belt use and to reduce highway fatalities. The campaign will run from May 21 through Memorial Day to June 3.

According to NHTSA, in 2005, 77 percent of passenger vehicle occupants in a serious crash who were buckled up, survived the crash, and when worn correctly, seat belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent — and by 60 percent — in pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans. Yet nearly one in five Americans (19 percent nationally) still fail to regularly wear their seat belts when driving or riding in a motor vehicle.

NHTSA is also encouraging organizations to support safe-driving practices by conducting belt use surveys to determine corporate use rates, as well as recognizing and rewarding those employees wearing their seat belts as they enter employee parking areas.