By: Richard L. Smith
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is urging drivers and passengers to buckle up as Memorial Day weekend and the busy summer travel season approach.
The agency announced its annual Click It or Ticket campaign, which will run from May 11 through May 31.
During that period, state and local law enforcement agencies across the country will increase patrols to make sure drivers and passengers are wearing seat belts.
According to NHTSA, unbuckled seat belts accounted for a passenger vehicle death every 54 minutes in 2024.
The agency said seat belt enforcement remains one of the most important tools for preventing serious injuries and fatalities on U.S. roads.
Officials said the campaign is especially important ahead of Memorial Day, when more families and travelers are expected to be on the road.
NHTSA is reminding motorists that buckling up takes only seconds but can be the difference between surviving a crash and becoming another statistic.