The summer travel season starts this Memorial Day weekend, and police say they’re stepping up seat belt enforcement. WNIN’s John Gibson has more:
The Evansville Police Department says it’s teaming up with law enforcement across Indiana to urge drivers to buckle up ahead of the national Click It or Ticket campaign.
The effort coincides with the Memorial Day holiday and continues to June 2nd.
Overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
The Institute says seat belt use should be “an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike.”
Indiana’s seat belt use rate last year was about 93%. The institute says that’s good — but it can be better.
Officials say the other 6.8% need to be reminded that seat belts save lives.
EPD Sgt. Nick Winsett says if you know a friend or family member that does not buckle up when they drive, “please ask them to consider changing their habits.”