Lower rates of seatbelt usage in the Arkansas has been a cause of concern for law enforcement. In order to raise awareness and enforcement, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Arkansas Highway Safety Office (AHSO) and local law enforcement are urging drivers to buckle up during the national Click It or Ticket campaign. The national high-visibility effort began Sunday and runs through June 1.
In 2023, the seat belt use rate in Arkansas was 80%, which is well below the national rate of 92%. Participating agencies will be taking a no excuses approach to enforcement. A major focus will be on nighttime driver as data shows a higher number of unrestrained passenger fatalities happen at night.
Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar says “Seat belt use should be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike. It’s not just the safe thing to do, it’s the law. During the Click It or Ticket campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure the message gets out to drivers and passengers. Buckling up is the simplest thing anyone can do to limit injury or save a life during a crash. We see the results of not wearing a seat belt all the time. So often, it could have been prevented.”
The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness about the risks of not wearing a seat belt and encouraging residents to always buckle up.
For more information, visit nhtsa.gov/clickit or call 501-618-8136.
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