State police enforce "Click It or Ticket" campaign

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Illinois State Police District 19 Commander, Captain Morrie Fraser, along with the Illinois Department of Transportation's Traffic Safety Liaison, announces the 2012 Click It or Ticket Campaign, May 11 through May 28. During this time period, District 19 Troopers will conduct seat belt enforcement zones throughout Wabash, Edwards, Wayne, White, Hamilton, Saline and Gallatin Counties.

A special emphasis of these enforcement zones will be on nighttime seat belt violations. Currently in Illinois, more than 92 percent of daytime travelers buckle up; however, that usage rate drops substantially during the late evening and early morning hours. Statistics continually show that between midnight and 6 a.m., there is a substantial increase in alcohol-related crashes, as well as a lower rate of seat belt use by all passengers.

Seat belts, when worn correctly, continue to be the simplest way to keep drivers and passengers safe during a crash.

"Too many drivers and passengers on the road, especially at night, are choosing to not wear their seat belts, and as a result, these decisions end in tragedy," said Captain Fraser. "Our goal is to save more lives, so ISP District 19 will be out enforcing seat belt laws around the clock."

District 19 Troopers know from personal experience that those fatality numbers are the actual faces of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, and friends right here in District 19. Too often, we must tell families their loved ones would have had a better chance of surviving a serious crash, if only they had been wearing a seat belt.

Remember, Click It or Ticket May 11 through May 28. There is no question about it: seat belts save lives and are the best defense in a traffic crash. Spread the word to your family and friends to buckle up, every trip, every time. You could save them the cost of a ticket, but more importantly, you could save a life.

For more information on the Illinois Click It or Ticket Campaign, please visit www.buckleupillinois.org or contact Sergeant Mark Zimmerman at mark_zimmerman@isp.state.il.us or Illinois Department of Transportation's Traffic Safety Liaison Kathy White at kwhiteseilopc@hotmail.com.