Police Take Part in Click It or Ticket Campaign Beginning November 16

Published on November 14, 2022

ARLINGTON, Va. – This Thanksgiving holiday, travelers across the nation will hit the roads, eager to spend time with family and friends. To help keep travelers safe, the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the national Click It or Ticket campaign. Law enforcement agencies across the country will increase enforcement efforts from November 16 – 30, 2022, to work towards reducing the number of fatalities that occur when motorists fail to buckle up. Everyone wants you to reach your destination safely, so it is critical to practice safe driving habits, like buckling your seat belt, on each and every ride.  

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According to NHTSA, there were 333 passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic collisions across the United States during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2020 (6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25, to 5:59 a.m. on Monday, November 30). Nighttime proved even more deadly, with 67% of those fatal crashes occurring during the nighttime hours. Wearing a seat belt is one of the most effective things anyone can do to prevent injury or death in a vehicle collision. The Click It or Ticket campaign combines powerful messages about seat belt safety with increased enforcement for unbuckled motorists.

Virginia law requires those under the age of 18 to be properly secured in a safety belt or child safety seat, no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle, and the driver is responsible for making sure this happens. In addition, Virginia law requires those in the front seat of vehicles to be properly restrained, regardless of age, and those 18 and older can be ticketed.  

To learn more about the NHTSA Click It or Ticket campaign, visit their website.