May 18, 2012
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

VOLUSIA DEPUTIES BEEFING UP SEAT BELT SAFETY ENFORCEMENT

Not only is it the law, but seat belt use saves thousands of lives across the county every year. To reinforce that life-saving message, Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies will be beefing up traffic enforcement as part of a Click It or Ticket safety campaign that kicks off next week.

The national campaign gets under way on Monday and will continue through the Memorial Day holiday -- traditionally, a busy, extended weekend on the nation’s roadways. “For those who violate the law and don’t use their seat belts, this enforcement wave is all about changing behaviors and making the roads safer,” said Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson. “Our deputies along with other law enforcement officers will be out in force, and they won’t be accepting any excuses. The safety of the motoring public demands a zero-tolerance approach to seat belt violators, and that’s exactly what we plan to do.”

In 2010, a total of 22,187 people were killed in vehicle crashes, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And 51 percent of them weren’t wearing seat belts. “Seat belts save lives, and there’s absolutely no reason not to wear them,” added Sheriff Johnson.”

The Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign will continue through June 3.