'Click It or Ticket' Enforcement Begins Ahead of Memorial Day Holiday

Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - The Virginia DMV, in partnership with Virginia’s law enforcement and state police, is reminding drivers to buckle up with the “Click It or Ticket” campaign ahead of the Memorial Day Weekend.

The most recent statewide seat belt survey showed that 26.8% Virginians were not wearing a seat belt, the DMV said. The survey also showed that in 2023 54% of people killed in traffic crashes were not wearing a seat belt.”

“Buckling up when you get in the car is the easiest way to protect yourself in the event of a crash, and it only takes seconds,” said DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey, the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “Last year, 335 unrestrained people died in crashes and there were over 1,400 serious injuries.

The Memorial Day holiday period is expected to be busy on the roadways. AAA says 38.4 million are expected to travel by car, and over one million are expected to be Virginians. Law enforcement will be highly visible along the roadways all this week, working to boost driver safety through speed and seatbelt enforcement.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, buckling your seatbelt can decrease the risk of death in a crash by 45%.

“Click It or Ticket is aimed at changing people’s behavior in a way that could save their life. We want to remind folks to make safety the norm by buckling up every time you get in your vehicle,” said Chesterfield County Police Acting Chief of Police Lieutenant Colonel Brad Badgerow. “Parents, you are setting an example. Help your child build a life-saving habit by ensuring that you and your child and are properly buckled every time you get in your vehicle.”