New York (WRGB) \u2014 New York law enforcement agencies will step up seat belt and child restraint enforcement statewide from May 18 through 31 as part of the annual \u201cBuckle Up New York, Click It or Ticket\u201d campaign, the Governor\u2019s Traffic Safety Committee announced today.<\/p>\n
The high-visibility effort is aimed at drivers and passengers who are not wearing seat belts, wearing them incorrectly, or failing to properly restrain children. Officials say the campaign is meant to reinforce a simple message: seat belts save lives, and wearing them is required by law.<\/p>\n
Christian Jackstadt, acting commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles said,<\/p>\n
It takes only a few seconds to buckle a seat belt, but the impact of not doing so could cause a lifetime of damage or even curtail a life. This enforcement drive is meant to serve as a reminder to buckle up every time even if you\u2019re driving a very short distance. And always make sure your passengers, especially your children, are properly restrained. Remembering to wear a seat belt is especially important this time of year when young people go to their proms or graduation celebrations so we want our young drivers to learn early on how important wearing a seat belt is and make it a lifelong habit.<\/p>\n
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said the campaign will combine education, media outreach and enforcement to increase compliance before lives are lost. <\/p>\n
For years, the law enforcement community has been united in our efforts to increase seat belt and child seat use. Although many drivers in New York State follow safety measures behind the wheel, there are still many who don\u2019t. Our goal with this campaign is to address seat belt and car seat compliance before tragedy strikes and more lives are lost. And when we say address it, we mean through education, media, and heightened enforcement. We will continue our partnership with the Department of Motor Vehicles to make sure seat belt use across New York is universal.<\/p>\n
Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, president of the New York State Sheriffs\u2019 Association, emphasized that seat belts are required for everyone in the vehicle, including back seat passengers. <\/p>\n
Figueroa said,<\/p>\n
It is a simple factif you don\u2019t wear a seat belt in the car, you are more likely to be injured, or even killed, in the event of a crash. Everyone in a vehicle must wear a seat belt or be in an appropriate child restraint device, even back seat passengers. Be safe in a vehicle. The Sheriffs of New York State want you to wear your seat belt because it\u2019s smart, it\u2019s simple, and it\u2019s the law.<\/p>\n
The New York State Association of Chiefs of Police also backed the mobilization. Chief Paul Oliva, president of the association said,<\/p>\n
Seat belt use is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent injury or death in a crash. By supporting this GTSC initiative, we are helping to protect the lives of New Yorkers of all ages, in every community.<\/p>\n
State officials pointed to data showing that while New York\u2019s front-seat seat belt compliance rate is 92%, serious gaps remain. Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research data from 2024 shows 35% of fatal crashes involved unrestrained occupants, down 3% from 2023, when 38% of fatal crashes involved an unrestrained occupant. Almost half, 46%, of back seat passenger fatalities occurred when those passengers were unrestrained.<\/p>\n
Since November 2020, New York law has required all passengers in a vehicle to wear seat belts. Officials said early results have been encouraging, with rear-seat compliance rising from 88% to 92%.<\/p>\n
Data from 2021-2024 shows nighttime fatalities involving people not wearing their seatbelts are significantly higher than daytime fatalities, and officials said alcohol-related and speed-related crashes.<\/p>\n