Crime & Safety

Bedford Police: 'Click It or Ticket' Means Zero Tolerance

Members of the Bedford Police Department (BPD) are joining law enforcement officers across the country for the national "Click It ori cket" seatbelt enforcement campaign, which runs from May 20 to June 2. 

With Memorial Day and the holiday weekend right around the corner, officials are targeting those who forgo a seatbelt.

"As we kick off the busy summer driving season it's important that everyone buckles up every time they go out, both day and night—no excuses," Bedford Police Lt. Melvin Padilla said in a press release. "Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing their seatbelt."

Authorities will carry out a "border to border operation," across the Northeast, which means that agencies sharing state lines will "team up to provide increased seat belt enforcement at border sites." The goal is to send a message of zero tolerance, no matter the state, according to police.

“Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists are still not buckling up, especially at night when the risk of getting in a crash is even greater,” Padilla said. “We want everyone to have a safe summer, but it requires an important step on the part of motorists—clicking that seat belt.” 

Here is some additional information provided in the BPD press release:

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 52-percent of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. As noted, deaths involving seat belt nonuse are more prevalent at night than during the daytime. According to NHTSA, 62-percent of the 10,135 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 during the overnight hours of 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. 

In 2011, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide according to NHTSA. 


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