Click It Or Ticket: Indiana State Police increases patrols this week for Memorial Day weekend

As Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer travel, the Indiana State Police are increasing patrols focused on seatbelt usage. From now through May 31, troopers will join police officers across the state in a national campaign aimed at promoting safe driving habits, including the use of seat belts.

“To kick off the summer travel season, it’s critical to remind all motorists that wearing a seatbelt is not just the law; it’s something that can save your life,” said Douglas Huntsinger, Executive Director for the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. “Our goal is simple – we want everyone to make it home safely. Buckling up is the first step in achieving that goal.”

This high-visibility enforcement campaign is part of a nationwide effort funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through grants administered by the ICJI. During the campaign, the Indiana State Police will adopt a no-excuses approach to enforcement, issuing citations to anyone not properly restrained.

Indiana has shown strong compliance with its seat belt laws. The ICJI’s latest observational survey found that 93.6% of Indiana drivers wear their seat belts. While this is encouraging, there is still work to be done to reach the remaining 6.4% of drivers who put themselves at risk.

“Seat belts are one of the simplest, most effective ways to protect yourself on the road,” said Jim Bryan, Traffic Safety Director for ICJI. “Putting on a seat belt takes just a few seconds but can make all the difference in the event of a crash. You are taking a dangerous risk if you’re not buckled up.”

Research consistently shows that seat belts can reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash by up to 65%. Without a seat belt, individuals are at a higher risk of being ejected from a vehicle, which can lead to fatal outcomes.

For additional information about seat belt safety, visit on.in.gov/seatbelt