The Wichita Falls Police Department, along with Texas Department of Public Safety, began their annual Click It Or Ticket campaign last Monday.
The end goal is to prevent incidents like the one that happened early Sunday morning in Foard county leading to three occupants being ejected from the vehicle and the death of 16-yearuold Kyevaungh Fogel.
None of the three were wearing their seat belts.
Sergeant Harold McClure said last year’s campaign led to a lot of citations.
“Last year during the “Click It or Ticket” program, we issued 253 seat belt tickets and 7 child safety violations,” McClure said.
It seems like buckling up would be second nature however, statistics show that not everyone does.
In 2015, DPS troopers issued over 28,000 seat belt citations and more than 13,000 child safety seat citations.
Sergeant McClure said it is important to keep your child safe.
“The best way to protect your child is not in your lap or arms,” McClure said, “but in a properly secured child seat.”
Last year in Texas, over 2,300 vehicle crashes involving unrestrained occupants resulted in 889 deaths.
Sergeant McClure said this important issue does not just pertain to teenagers.
“It is extremely important,” McClure said. “Not just for young drivers, but drivers of any age, even passengers. It is the law that all occupants need to be properly restrained inside the vehicle while it is moving at all times.”
Sergeant McClure said buckling up can save your life.
“If you are involved in a crash, having that seat belt on is going to vastly increase your chances of surviving a severe accident.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2015 alone, seat belts prevented 370 fatalities and 6,652 serious injuries in the state of Texas.
Sergeant McClure said that if you are seen without your seat belt in Wichita Falls, you are subject to being stopped and issued a citation.
The department has patrol units currently out just for seat belt citations during the campaign, which continues through June 5th.
– Newschannel 6
