The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is bringing back their annual safety enforcement program, “Click It or Ticket.”

This year’s enforcement period will being on Monday, May 24 and run through Sunday, June 6.

According to NHTSA statistics, in 2008, 12,671 people died in motor vehicle crashes nationwide between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.  Nearly 64 percent of those who died were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crashes.  About 45 percent of fatal crashes in 2008 happened during daytime hours.

NHTSA statistics show that “Click It or Ticket” is the most successful seat belt enforcement campaign ever.  The campaign is credited with increasing the national seat belt usage rate from 58 percent in 1994 to 84 percent in 2009.

Law enforcement officials want to remind drivers that buckling up may not only save drivers the cost of a ticket, but it may also save a life.

(Moshe Altusky – YWN)