2021 Memorial Day Seat Belt Use Enforcement Campaign

2021 MEMORIAL DAY SEAT BELT USE ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGN
NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12 May 2021

Starting now through Memorial Day weekend, the University of Illinois Chicago Police Department (UICPD) is stepping up enforcement to remind motorists to “Click It or Ticket.”

“Click It or Ticket is not about citations – it’s about saving lives,” said Captain Stanley Grice, UICPD Commanding Officer of Operations. “Wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45%. Seat belts save lives every day, but they are only effective if they are used.”

While the Illinois Department of Transportation reports that the state currently has a 94.6% seat belt use compliance rate, unbelted occupants still account for more than half of those killed in motor vehicle crashes.

“The simple click of a seat belt could save thousands of lives each year,” Grice said. “Since Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer and is a popular time for traveling to visit family and friends, we want to remind everyone that whether you are traveling down the block or across the country, make sure you buckle up every time.”

The “Click It or Ticket” campaign is administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation with federal highway safety funds.