DES MOINES, Iowa — According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 10,893 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the U.S. in 2020.
In that same year, 58% of crash victims killed at night (between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.) were not wearing their seatbelts. According to the Iowa DOT, 94 people were killed in 2021 on Iowa’s roadways who were not wearing their seatbelts.
As part of their ongoing response, law enforcement agencies across Iowa will be participating in the national Click It or Ticket campaign from May 23 to June 5. In an effort to combat fatality and injury crashes, officers will exhibit zero tolerance for drivers who are not buckled or are speeding or driving while distracted or impaired.
Not wearing a seatbelt is dangerous and puts everyone in the vehicle in jeopardy. Those not wearing a safety belt become a projectile and kill others who are buckled. In Iowa, the maximum penalty for a seat belt violation is $135.50, according to Iowa code 321.445.
Good habits start with young drivers. Seatbelts Are For Everyone (SAFE) is a peer-to-peer program for teenagers encouraging seatbelt use. To get your school involved, contact Cathy Slade at cslade@dccca.org or 515-766-8307.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau and the Crash Dummies (Vince and Larry) remind you to always Buckle Up, Every Trip, Every Time. Additional information with be forthcoming about the Crash Dummies “Wrecked It” Reunion Tour.
