As summer kicks off and travel increases, the Elmhurst Police Department is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation to remind motorists to Click It or Ticket. Funded by a grant from IDOT, the program’s goal is saving lives by reducing fatal and serious injury car crashes through additional enforcement of DUI, seatbelt, and distracting driving laws.
The most recent crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that 43% of occupants killed in passenger vehicle crashes in 2015 were unrestrained. Because that percentage increased to 57% in crashes occurring during overnight hours between 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m., the Click It or Ticket campaign is focused on overnight enforcement. Motorists who are not buckled up will be ticketed, and those caught driving impaired will be arrested.
“Please help us spread this life-saving message before one more friend or family member is killed as a result of this senseless inaction,” said Commander Jim Gandy. “Seatbelts save lives, and every vehicle occupant—adult or child, front seat or back—needs to remember to buckle up, every trip, every time. Together, we can make zero fatalities a reality in Illinois.”
