Law enforcement officers from the Plainsboro Police Department will be cracking down on unbuckled motorists and their passengers as a part of the national “Click it or Ticket” campaign.
Beginning Monday, May 21, and running through Sunday, June 3, the annual initiative includes high visibility law enforcement seat belt check points and saturated patrols, as well as local and national publicity designed to ensure that drivers and passengers recognize the life-saving value of seat belts.
“Using a seat belt is the simplest way for a motorist and his or her passenger to protect themselves when traveling,” said Gary Poedubicky, acting director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “In 2010 alone, seatbelts saved an estimated 12,546 lives nationwide.”
Last year the seat belt usage rate in New Jersey rose for the 15th consecutive year to 94.51 percent. Poedubicky noted that while seat belt usage rates continue to increase in New Jersey, law enforcement and safety officials want to see a 100 percent compliance rate.
“New Jersey has a strong front seat belt usage, but there is still work to do,” Poedubicky added. “We must continue to focus on enforcement and public outreach efforts that educate all motor vehicle occupants about the importance of buckling up, every ride.”
Patrolman Joseph Dell Beni