It’s ‘Click It Or Ticket’ Time, Buckle Up Y’all

(East Texas) It's proven, seat belts save lives. There's never a time I start my truck up without first hearing the click of my seat belt. Texas law requires all passengers in any vehicle, front seat, back seat, or third row, to be buckled into a seat belt while the vehicle is moving. This includes babies, toddlers, and small children.

Texas Seat Belt Laws and Penalties

Too often, Texans are killed in automobile accidents when they are not belted in. Passengers can be thrown from a vehicle during a crash. Not adhering to state law can be quite costly. Law enforcement may issue the driver and the passenger of the vehicle a citation, which could cost each of them up to $200, plus court costs. For children under 8 who are not properly secured, the fine jumps to $250 for the driver, plus court costs.

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Click It or Ticket Returns Statewide

With Memorial Day weekend approaching, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is once again reminding Texas drivers to Click It or Ticket. TxDOT studies have shown that 1 in 10 Texans simply never buckle their seat belt, essentially putting them at risk of death when they are riding in a car on a Texas roadway.

Beginning May 18, Texas law enforcement is stepping up seat belt enforcement. Click It or Ticket: every rider, every time. The campaign has proven effective at raising awareness of buckling up. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration believes the campaign has saved more than 8,600 lives in Texas alone and prevented 157,000 serious injuries since launching in 2002.

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The Impact of Buckling Up

Last year, 965 people died in traffic crashes on Texas roads as a result of not wearing a seat belt. TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams says,

"A seat belt can be the difference between walking away from a crash and never making it home, but only if you’re wearing it. Whether you’re going just a few blocks or many miles, buckle your seat belt every time, day and night."

This Memorial Day weekend and anytime, avoid a costly fine and buckle up for safety. Drive like a Texan: kind, courteous, and safe.