Statewide Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement cites 1,919

As summer travel picks up again, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and 62 law enforcement agencies throughout Colorado partnered for the first statewide Click It or Ticket enforcement period of the year. The period ran from Monday, May 24 until Sunday, June 6 and, as of June 14 reporting, a total of 1,919 drivers were cited during the enforcement. Citations included both drivers and passengers statewide not wearing a seatbelt.

The campaign comes in advance of the “100 deadly days of summer,” which historically marks an increase in traffic fatalities between Memorial Day and Labor Day. To date in 2021, there have been 193 deaths on Colorado roadways, a 12% increase compared to this time last year.

In 2020, 612 people, including pedestrians, were killed on Colorado roads. Of those killed, 365 were in passenger vehicles and 203 or 56% were unbuckled at the time of the crash. This is a seven percent increase from 189 unbuckled fatalities in 2019.

The Click It or Ticket campaign encourages people to buckle up to avoid a citation but, more importantly, get home safely to their loved ones.

“Buckling up is an easy decision, and it may be one that saves your life.” said Chief Matthew C. Packard, Colorado State Patrol. “The 1,919 citations issued this enforcement period serve as a reminder to buckle up every ride, because your life matters.”

To learn more, head to seatbeltscolorado.com.