If you recently received a ticket for not wearing your seatbelt, you are not alone. 73 people were given citations in Rifle during the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) “Click It or Ticket” campaign which ran from March 26th to April 1st.
The campaign is designed to increase awareness of the dangers of not buckling up. According to CDOT, 182 people who weren’t buckled up were killed in traffic accidents in 2016. Nearly half would have survived if they had simply worn their seatbelts.
“Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to prevent serious injuries and save people from dying in motor vehicle crashes,” according to the CDOT website. Colorado ranks significantly lower than the national average in seat belt use. Only 84% of Coloradans buckle up versus 90.1% nationally.
Rifle Police Chief Tommy Klein sees the importance of seat belt use which is why his department participated in the statewide program. And Rifle will likely join the “May Mobilization” of the Click It or Ticket campaign beginning next month.
“Our goal is to motivate people to develop a habit. We’re not writing tickets just to write them,” stated Klein. “Please buckle up, if not for yourself, do it for your family.”
Make sure that you and your passengers are wearing seat belts. Colorado law requires all front seat passengers and all children under 16 years old to be properly restrained.
So save yourself the hassle of being pulled over and paying a fine. And maybe even save your own life. Wear your seatbelt.