Click It or Ticket Campaign Success in Florida

The recent implementation of the ‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign in the state of Florida has been a huge success. This road safety movement has been tried out in previous years, with 2017 being the most recent. It involved promoting the concept of seatbelt awareness, partnered with the police department paying extra attention to ensure seatbelt were worn and giving out tickets to those who didn’t.

This national campaign was implemented in the sunshine state from May to June, and has used a dramatic media campaign to illustrate the importance of every passenger and driver wearing seat belts at all times. These included a strapline to ‘buckle up for the ones you love’.  This was an attempt to show that traffic accident aren’t just numbers, they’re people’s mothers, fathers, sons, daughters etc.

Following an online and televised campaign, there was a pronounced increase in the enforcement of citations for those not wearing a seatbelt. This was not a money-making scheme; it was a deterrent to try and ensure everyone obeys the law. Seatbelt save lives, and if you or your family don’t wear them in your vehicle (whether you’re operating it or not) you run the risk of severely injuring yourself.

There’s no denying that seatbelts save lives; in 2015 they saved nearly 14,000 lives and 3,000 deaths could’ve been prevented if the occupants had chosen to wear them. This is precisely why the campaign launched and has gained a great deal of traction. Even if you’re a competent and safe driver you can’t predict how others act on the road. Seatbelts are there to protect you and should always be used.

Florida law requires that all drivers, any front seat passengers, and all those under 18 must wear a seatbelt. Children under 4 have to be in a child safety seat and those who are 4 or 5 must have a booster seat. It’s important to note these laws are in place in order to protect you and your family, and even if you’re not legally required to wear a seatbelt it doesn’t mean you should choose not to. Being in a car accident can be life-changing, so you want to ensure you’ve done all you can to protect yourself and the ones you love.