BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
While Memorial Day is over, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, local law enforcement and Virginia State Police will continue the nationwide Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign through June 1.
Additionally, this year beginning July 1, Virginia will have a new backseat seatbelt law requiring all vehicle occupants to wear a seatbelt, according to a written statement.
"Ensuring the safety of every driver and passenger on our roads is a responsibility we all share, and it begins with the simple act of buckling up. Seat belts are one of the most effective tools we have to reduce injuries and save lives in the event of a crash," Virginia DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey said in the statement. "I urge everyone to make seat belt use a non-negotiable part of their daily routine. It's not just about following the law -- it's about protecting yourself and the people riding with you."
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According to the most recent statewide seat belt survey in 2024, 19% of Virginians were still not wearing a seat belt while driving. Though this is an improvement over the 2023 numbers, there's still plenty of road ahead when it comes to making seat belt use second nature for everyone.
Last year, 50% of people killed in traffic crashes were unrestrained in a vehicle that had safety restraints. It's a sobering reminder ahead of the busy holiday weekend that buckling up could be the simplest decision that saves a life, according to the statement.
"Whenever there are more vehicles on the road, the potential for crashes rises," said Morgan Dean, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic in Virginia. "You can't control what other drivers do behind the wheel, but you can control what happens inside your vehicle. That starts with making sure that everyone is buckled in correctly before you begin your journey."
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, buckling your seat belt can reduce your risk of death in a crash by 45%. That's why DMV is urging everyone to speak up about seat belt safety -- because staying silent can be deadly.
"We want everyone to reach their destination safely -- that is our top priority. Protect yourself and others by buckling up, driving the speed limit and paying attention to other vehicles and motorcycles on the roadway," said Virginia State Police Superintendent Colonel Matthew Hanley. "We take the law and your safety seriously. Our troopers will be highly visible during the Click It or Ticket initiative and enforcing seat belt use, just as we do every day."
DMV and its partners are reminding Virginians that starting July 1, a new law will require drivers and passengers in every seat (including the backseat), no matter their age, to wear a seat belt.
"This year's Click It or Ticket campaign is especially meaningful to our family, as we prepare for the Christopher King Seat Belt Law to take effect on July 1," said Christy King, mother of Christopher King. "This law carries my son's name, but it's about protecting every person who gets into a car. We lost Christopher because he wasn't wearing a seat belt -- something that could have saved his life. Now, through this law and the Click It or Ticket campaign, we have a chance to save others. Please, buckle up. Do it for the people who love you."
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