News

May 22, 2008
Click It or Ticket Blitzes All Over Virginia
Enforcement Blitz to Focus on Unbuckled Motorists-Day and Night

Jurisdictions from North to South and East to West will be out in force May 23rd as part of the Click It or Ticket Mobilization. Henrico Police along with all jurisdictions along Route 60 (James City Police, New Kent Sheriff’s, Richmond Police, Chesterfield Police, Powhatan Sheriff’s Office, VACP, and DMV) have partnered along Route 60 to enforce traffic laws in advance of the heavily traveled Memorial Day weekend.

The Route 60 Blitz will focus particular attention on night time seat belt use. According to preliminary numbers from DMV: The Virginia Highway Safety Office, in 2007 there were a total of 1,026 fatalities, of those, 749 fatalities occurred in vehicles that were equipped with safety restraints. 452 or 60 percent of the 749 fatalities were not wearing restraints. Of those 452 fatalities, 251 or 52 percent of the total unbelted fatalities occurred between the hours of 6:00pm and 6:00am.

“Clearly more drivers at night than during the day are taking the attitude that ‘it will never happen to me,’ but the risk of a fatal crash actually goes up significantly at night,” . “That’s why we are joining all our law enforcement partners and buckling down to make sure that all passengers, in all vehicles, are buckled up-day and night”.

“Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. Click It or Ticket is Law Enforcement’s way of telling you we care about you and want you to arrive at your destination safely”.

All the departments above participate in the National Click It or Ticket Mobilization. Click It or Ticket is focused on increasing seat belt and child safety seat use which in turn reduces serious injuries and fatalities.

Click It or Ticket is one of several programs under the Smart, Safe and Sober Partnership. Smart, Safe and Sober is a statewide initiative dedicated to preventing crashes, injuries and fatalities on Virginia roadways. It is a joint partnership with the Henrico Police and other agencies present, DMV, The Virginia Highway Safety Office, the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Virginia Sheriff’s Association and Drive Smart Virginia.