SAVANNAH – The Savannah Police Department is joining the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety for the national “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign that runs from May 18th through May 31st. Motorists are reminded not to risk a ticket by always remembering to ‘click it’ and buckle their seat belt before the start of every trip.
During this period, which includes the Memorial Day Holiday travel weekend, the Savannah Police Department will join state and local law enforcement agencies working to save lives on Georgia roads and highways through the enforcement of seat belt and child passenger safety laws.
Georgia law requires front seat passengers in all vehicles to wear a seat belt. All children between the ages of 8 and 17 are required to wear a seat belt when riding in the front and back seat of a vehicle. Children ages 7 and under are required by law to ride in a child safety seat. These seats are recommended by the manufacturer based on the height and weight of the child.
“Law enforcement officers see the difference wearing a seat belt makes on a daily basis, which is why we will continue to use education and enforcement to promote seat belt use,” Lieutenant Brian Spence, SPD Traffic Unit Commander said. “Taking a few seconds to click the seat belt before every trip could lead to a lifetime of memories so please make the right choice by always wearing your seat belt.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 9,758 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes in the United States in 2024.
Federal crash data showed 51% of the passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in Georgia from 2020-2024 were not wearing seat belts and 53% of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in rural areas in the state during the same five-year period were not wearing seat belts.
NHTSA has reported that wearing a seat belt in the front seat of a passenger car can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45% and, in light trucks, reduces the risk of fatal injury by 60%.
“The safety features in our vehicles are designed to be most effective when everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seat belt and small children are riding in a properly installed safety seat,” Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety said. “The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety thanks all of our law enforcement partners for the lives they save every day on our roads through education and enforcement.”
The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the Savannah Police Department offer these safe driving tips:
- Drive at safe and reasonable speeds and never try to speed to make up time.
- Buckle up before starting your vehicle.
- Avoid distractions such as phones, conversations, and reaching for items in your vehicle.
- Program navigation devices before getting on the road.
- Do not drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
May 18th is also the beginning of the “100 Days of Summer HEAT” mobilization that will run through Labor Day Weekend. The Savannah Police Department and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety remind everyone to make the summer travel period safer by driving safe speeds, avoiding distractions (especially phones), never driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and always wearing a seat belt.
More information can be found at gahighwaysafety.org.
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