As the Memorial Day holiday approaches and summer beckons, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and law enforcement emphasize the importance of seat belt usage. The national Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign is now underway, running until June 2, aiming to enhance road safety across the state.

Gerald Lackey, DMV commissioner and the governor’s highway safety representative, emphasized the simplicity and effectiveness of buckling up in vehicles.

“Buckling up when you get in the car is the easiest way to protect yourself in the event of a crash, and it only takes seconds,” Mr. Lackey said. He underscored the urgency of the campaign by citing last year’s statistics, revealing that 335 unrestrained individuals lost their lives in crashes, with over 1,400 sustaining serious injuries.

Despite efforts to promote seat belt usage, recent statewide surveys indicate that 26.8% of Virginians still neglect to buckle up. This is compounded by the fact that 54% of traffic fatalities last year involved individuals who were not properly restrained. With the upcoming Memorial Day weekend expected to see a surge in travel, these figures serve as a stark reminder of the need for increased vigilance on the roads.

AAA forecasts that this Memorial Day will witness historic levels of travel, with 38.4 million Americans expected to journey by car, the highest figure since the organization began tracking holiday travel in 2000. In Virginia alone, over a million residents are anticipated to embark on road trips over the long weekend, marking a 4% increase from last year and approaching the record set in 2005.

Law enforcement agencies have commenced high-visibility enforcement efforts on busy thoroughfares to reinforce seat belt compliance. Col. Gary T. Settle, superintendent of the Virginia State Police, stressed the critical importance of adhering to seat belt laws. “Virginia’s state troopers take occupant safety very seriously because we know seatbelts save lives. Simply put, click it or receive a ticket,” Col. Settle said.