The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) is working with local law enforcement statewide during the state Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement mobilization through Friday, Oct. 31, to encourage drivers on West Virginia roads to buckle up correctly every trip.
The mobilization is part of the GHSP’s continual efforts to increase seat belt usage and ultimately save lives in West Virginia.
The October Click It or Ticket mobilization runs in conjunction with Operation Crash Reduction, a regional campaign aimed at reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities during the Columbus Day weekend Oct. 10-13.
Historically, it is one of the deadliest holiday weekends for fatal crashes.
In 2023, there were 260 fatalities on West Virginia’s roadways. Twenty-seven percent of those fatalities were occupants who were unrestrained.
Of 177 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities, 40 percent were unrestrained.
To help save lives, law enforcement officers across West Virginia will be out in full force, ticketing drivers who are caught traveling without a correctly buckled seat belt or transporting unrestrained children.
“As we continue to work to spread lifesaving seat belt messaging, we ask that every driver and passenger take responsibility when they are driving or riding in vehicles,” said GHSP division manager Amy Boggs. “Too many people die on our roads because they were not buckled up or not buckled up correctly.”
“At the current statewide seat belt usage rate of nearly 92 percent, unbuckled drivers or passengers have a higher likelihood of being killed if they are in a crash,” said GHSP director Jack McNeely. “Seat belts save lives. Not buckling up is not worth the risk. Click it. Don’t risk it.”
Wearing a seat belt is required by law, but don’t just buckle up to avoid a ticket, McNeely said.
“The $25 violators pay if ticketed pales in comparison to the lives of the people we love most,” he said. “If you are caught driving while unbuckled and you get a ticket, look at it as your wake-up call. A ticket is far less expensive than paying with your life or the lives of your family and friends.”