TULSA – Oklahoma State University-Tulsa police officers will join law enforcement agencies nationwide today through May 31 in an aggressive “Click-It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign.

“The focus of this initiative is to educate people about the importance of wearing a seat belt and make sure drivers are safe,” said OSU-Tulsa Police Chief Melvin Murdock. “Across Oklahoma, we lose a number of people every year simply because they’re not wearing a seatbelt. We’re doing this to save lives.”

During 2007 in Oklahoma, 310 people who died in highway crashes were not wearing seat belts. Nearly 2,000 unrestrained drivers or passengers died between 2002 and 2007.

Nationwide during 2007, more than 14,000 people in passenger vehicles died in crashes while unbelted. About half of those people’s lives could have been saved if they had been wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. The numbers are even worse at night than during the day, according to new figures released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Even one death caused by not wearing a safety belt is one too many,” said Scott Watkins, director of the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office. “Taking a moment to fasten a seat belt may be one of the best investments you’ll ever make. Through public education and enforcement efforts across the state, we hope to raise awareness and save lives.”

State and local law enforcement agencies and highway safety groups will support the campaign through the end of May. Police will be ticketing unbelted vehicle occupants around the clock, day and night.

“Wearing your seat belt costs you nothing — but not wearing it will,” Watkins said. “Unless you want to risk a ticket — or, worse, your life — please remember to buckle up day and night. ‘Click-It or Ticket’ isn’t just a slogan; it’s a promise.”

For more information about the campaign, visit www.ohso.ok.gov or www.nhtsa.gov.

News Contacts:

Mary Bea Drummond
918-594-8223

Trish McBeath
918-594-8360