The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and police agencies across the state have joined forces this month as part of the statewide Click it or Ticket initiative.
From May 16th to June 5th, Pennsylvania police will conduct mobilized enforcement activities related to seatbelt safety, which will include Traffic Enforcement Zones and an increased patrol presence on roadways that have historically been known to have a higher incidence of injuries and fatalities among unrestrained drivers and passengers.
The initiative comes following data gathered by PennDOT that found an increase in unrestrained fatalities; the numbers jumped from 383 unrestrained fatalities in 2014 to 413 in 2015, as well as a decrease in seatbelt use in general during 2015. According to a press release issued by PennDOT regarding the Click It or Ticket initiative, the proper use of a seatbelt can increase the chances of surviving a crash by up to 60 percent. This is just one of the many statistics that the department hopes to make the public more aware of through educational outreach and local events.
The primary law in Pennsylvania states that the driver and all occupants of a vehicle who are under 18 years old must wear a seatbelt. Children under four years of age are required to be restrained properly in an approved safety seat, and children from ages 4 to 8 are required to use a booster seat appropriate to their size and weight. Drivers and front seat passengers who are 18 or older must also wear their seatbelts. In fact, a driver who is pulled over for a traffic violation can be issued an additional ticket and/or fine for failure to wear a seatbelt when stopped.
The attorneys at Schmidt Kramer are all too familiar with the consequences of an auto accident and hope all drivers in Pennsylvania take the message behind Click It or Ticket to heart and make the choice to buckle up.
Should you ever be involved in a car wreck caused by a careless driver, contact our experienced car crash attorneys for a free consultation. You may be entitled to compensation, and we can help you obtain it.
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