LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – To remind everyone about the importance of buckling up, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) has announced a “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign that will run from May 20 to June 2.
The Michigan State Police (MSP), as well as officers from city and county police departments across the state, will be conducting seat belt enforcement during the two-week period, which includes Memorial Day weekend.
In Michigan, 244 occupants killed in traffic crashes in 2022 were not wearing seat belts, according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). Over the 2022 Memorial Day weekend, 21 fatal crashes on Michigan roadways resulted in 21 fatalities.
“The enforcement period is designed to save lives by reminding drivers and all vehicle occupants that buckling up is the most effective thing you can do to stay safe on our roadways,” said Katie Bower, OHSP director. “With the arrival of warmer weather, there is an increase in the number of people traveling to meet up with family and friends. We want to encourage drivers and passengers to buckle up so that everyone makes it to their destinations safely.”
From 2020 to 2023, Michigan’s seat belt usage rate fell from 94.4% to 92.4%. The national seat belt usage rate in 2022 was 91.6%.
Men make up the majority of those killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in Michigan. According to UMTRI, from 2018 to 2022, of the 1,135 occupants killed in crashes who were not wearing seat belts, 826 (72.8%) were male and 309 (27.2%) were female.
In addition, young adults are at a higher risk of being killed because of riding unrestrained. Of the 18,161 drivers in crashes who were not wearing a seat belt from 2018 to 2022, 4,381 (24.1%) were 24 years old or younger.
“Wearing your seatbelt is not just the safe thing to do—it’s the law,” Bower said. “MSP troopers, local police, and county sheriff’s offices will be conducting high-visibility enforcement as we work collectively to help address these disturbing crash numbers.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that buckling up in the front seat can reduce the risk of serious injury or death in a crash by 45 percent.
Michigan law requires drivers, front-seat passengers, and passengers 15 and younger in any seating position to be buckled up. The fine and associated costs for not wearing a seat belt are $65. Children must be in a car or booster seat until they are 8 or 4′ 9″ tall. Children under 4 years old must be in the back seat.
The OHSP coordinates the “Click It or Ticket” effort, which is supported by federal traffic safety funds.
For more information about seat belts, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/seat-belts.
