Raleigh, N.C. — As Memorial Day approaches—a time when traffic volume typically spikes due to holiday travel—North Carolina officials are urging all drivers and passengers to buckle up. The Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) has officially launched its “Click It or Ticket” Memorial Day campaign, a two-week statewide enforcement and education initiative focused on seat belt safety.
Running from May 19 through June 1, the campaign combines public awareness efforts with increased law enforcement patrols to ensure compliance with North Carolina’s seat belt laws. Officers from state and local agencies will be stepping up patrols, conducting checkpoints, and issuing citations to unbuckled drivers and passengers, both in the front and back seats.
“Never hesitate to buckle your seatbelt—it could be the difference between life and death,” said GHSP Director Mark Ezzell. “It’s too risky to take that chance.”
Why It Matters
The campaign is backed by stark statistics. According to the North Carolina 2023 Traffic Crash Facts report:
- 492 unbuckled drivers lost their lives in crashes last year across the state.
- So far in 2024, 158 unbelted passengers or drivers have died in vehicle crashes.
These deaths are preventable. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passengers by 45%, and by 60% for pickup and SUV drivers.
Law & Penalties
North Carolina law requires:
- All front seat occupants to wear seat belts.
- Back seat occupants to wear seat belts if under the age of 16, and all passengers in vehicles driven by drivers with a learner’s permit or provisional license.
Violating the state’s seat belt law can result in a $180 citation, and even higher fines for failing to properly secure child passengers.
A Holiday Safety Tradition
The “Click It or Ticket” campaign has become a staple of holiday highway safety efforts across North Carolina and the country. Launched nationally in 1993, the campaign continues to play a critical role in saving lives and encouraging consistent seat belt use.
Drivers are reminded that buckling up is not optional—it’s the law and it remains the simplest and most effective way to protect yourself in a crash.
For more details on North Carolina’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign and seat belt safety, visit:
https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/safety/click-ticket/Pages/default.aspx
