You better remember to buckle up next time you drive off.
PennDOT, the Pennsylvania State Police and over 600 police agencies across the state have begun a “Click It or Ticket” seatbelt enforcement blitz that will last through June 9.
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According to state officials, police along Route 1 in Lower Bucks County have increased nighttime patrols.
Bensalem police began their increased enforcement efforts Monday night and continued into early Tuesday morning, Sergeant John Gladu said. He added that officers were looking for signal violations as well.
PennDOT said in a release that traffic safety checkpoints, Traffic Enforcement Zones and roving patrols will be used.
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“As the start of the summer travel season approaches, I strongly encourage everyone to buckle up every time, no matter how far you’re traveling,” PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch said. “The majority of crashes happen within 25 miles from home, and you are 60 percent more likely to survive a crash if you’re buckled up.”
Law enforcement is focusing their efforts at night because 275 unbuckled fatalities happened between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. and 170 happened between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m., the state said.
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“I’m again directing our troopers to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward violations of the state’s seat belt and child passenger restraint laws during this campaign period,” State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said in a written release.
A reminder on state seatbelt law:
Pennsylvania’s primary seat-belt law requires drivers and passengers under 18 years old to buckle up, and children under the age of four must be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat. Children ages 4 to 8 must be restrained in an appropriate booster seat. In addition, children ages 8 to 18 must be must be in a seat belt when riding anywhere in the vehicle.
Also, drivers and front-seat passengers 18 years-old or older are required to buckle up. If motorists are stopped for a traffic violation and are not wearing their seat belt, they can receive a second ticket and second fine.
Across the state, 503 people died while unbelted in auto crosses, which was a slight decrease from the number of fatalities in 2011, PennDOT said.
