Allen County's "Click It or Ticket" Campaign Aims to Boost Seat Belt Safety

Allen County, Ohio, is set to launch its annual "Click It or Ticket" campaign on May 16th. This initiative, backed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), aims to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries by issuing citations to drivers and passengers not wearing seat belts. The campaign strategically coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, a time of increased road traffic.

For those cited for seat belt violations, the Allen County Prosecutor's Office offers an Infraction Deferral Program. Adult offenders can pay $23 to enroll in this 2-month program. Upon completion, the violation is dismissed and not reported to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), providing an alternative to facing the full fine. If an offender opts not to participate in the deferral program, the full fine for a seat belt violation in Allen County is $141, according to Lima Municipal Court's fines and court costs.

Local organizations like the Rotary Club of Lima and various schools plan on supporting the campaign through educational initiatives. Experts point to the following data to highlight the importance of seat belt use:

• Seat belts have saved approximately 374,276 lives in the U.S. from 1975 to 2017.
• In 2016, seat belts saved nearly 15,000 lives.
• Seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% for front seat passengers and by 60% for light truck occupants, also significantly lowering the risk of serious injuries.

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