Contact: Sgt. Richard Sherry

The Salem State College Police Department Supports Click It or Ticket Campaign

Salem State College Police Department will join more than 280 Massachusetts local police departments and the State Police in support of the May 2005 Mobilization of the Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau’s (GHSB) Click It or Ticket Campaign from May 13 to June 5. The GHSB is a program of the Executive Office of Public Safety.

“Those using Massachusetts roadways during this May Click It or Ticket Mobilization should drive sober and well-rested, obey posted speed limits, and be properly buckled up,” said Chief of Public Safety. “We are serious about saving lives by vigorously enforcing all traffic laws, in particular those involving safety belts and child safety seats, during this mobilization and all year-round.”

The GHSB’s Click It or Ticket Campaign, made possible by a federal highway safety grant, involves the close coordination of extra state and local traffic enforcement, public information, and community education. For more campaign information, including a growing photo library of safety belt educational efforts by local police, go to www.mass.gov/ghsb.

“Wearing a safety belt isn’t just common sense, it is the law,” said Secretary of Public Safety Edward A. Flynn. “The Click It or Ticket Campaign, based on a successful national model, continues to enhance our efforts to save lives, reduce injuries, and prevent economic losses from motor vehicle crashes in Massachusetts.”

Since its inception in November 2002, the Click It or Ticket Campaign has had a positive impact on highway safety in Massachusetts. Safety belt use in the state increased by 12% between 2002 and 2004 to 63%, the highest rate ever recorded. However the Massachusetts safety belt use rate compares unfavorably to the national use rate at 80% as of 2004.

The Salem State College Police Department Supports Click It or Ticket Campaign May 11, 2005

The Salem State College Police Department and the GHSB provide the following information on safety belts, booster seats and child safety seats:

Safety belts reduce the risk of death in a motor vehicle crash by 45% and moderate to critical injury by 50%. But of the 331 automobile and light truck occupants killed on Massachusetts roadways in 2002, 76% were unbuckled or their restraint use was unknown.

If Massachusetts achieved 100% safety belt use, based on 2002 data the additional estimated annual savings would be 88 lives, 6,009 injuries, and $660.2 million in economic costs.

Massachusetts law requires all drivers and passengers to be properly restrained by a safety belt, booster seat or child safety seat. A driver may be stopped by police solely for having a child 12 years of age or younger improperly restrained ($25 fine per unbuckled occupant).

Massachusetts law requires children under five AND weighing 40 pounds or less to ride properly secured in a child safety seat. Children five and older AND weighing over 40 pounds must wear a safety belt. For maximum safety, children 40 to 80 pounds should ride in a booster seat. Children over 80 pounds and taller than 4’9” are ready for an adult safety belt.

Children 12 years of age and under, especially those riding in a rear-facing child safety seat, should always ride properly restrained in the back seat away from an