More than 15,000 passenger vehicle occupants died in traffic crashes between the nighttime hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. during 2005, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – and 59 percent of those passenger vehicle occupants killed were NOT wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crash.

The proportion of unbuckled deaths at night is considerably higher than the nearly as alarming 44 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were not wearing their seats belts and were killed during daytime hours across the nation that same year.

That’s why the City of Alcoa Police Department is teaming up with state and local law enforcement along with highway safety officials during mid-May through Memorial Day to launch an aggressive national “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement

mobilization to crack down on low seat belt use and to reduce highway fatalities – with a new emphasis this year on convincing more motorists to buckle up – day and night.

Seat belts clearly save lives. But unfortunately, too many folks still need a tough reminder. That’s why law enforcement will be out in force buckling down on those who are not buckled up. Wearing your seat belt costs you nothing, but the cost for not wearing it certainly will. So unless you want to risk a ticket, or worse - your life, please remember to buckle up day and night – “Click It or Ticket.”