City joins click-it or ticket campaign

Community Affairs Officer Barbara Stevens reported to Historic City News that the St. Augustine Police Department is participating in the statewide Thanksgiving “Click It or Ticket” campaign.

“The St Augustine Police Department is asking all citizens to buckle their seat belt when riding in a vehicle,” Stevens said. “The Campaign is running from November 21st through November 30th.”

Since record keeping began in 1961, the number of traffic fatalities on our nation’s highways and roads is at an all time low. In fact, fatalities dropped nearly 10% between 2007 and 2008.

Progress has been made in seat belt use, increasing the use of Child safety seats, and reducing impaired driving.

Yet, tragically in 2008, 37,261 people still needlessly died, and another 2.5 million people were injured in traffic crashes.

“In efforts to keep safe, the Saint Augustine Police Department will be aggressively enforcing the Florida seat belt laws and handing out traffic citations to violators during the campaign,” Stevens told Historic City News. “Hopefully, this campaign will encourage citizens to wear their seat belts — which will help continue the decrease in traffic fatalities.”

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office also announced that their deputies are participating in the holiday safety program.

The campaign is aimed at keeping motorists safe through the use of safety belts. The Florida Department of Transportation is sponsoring the campaign.

“Our purpose is to educate motorists. This is a busy time of year for our highways due to the holidays. We want everyone to come home safe,” said Flagler County Sheriff Donald W. Fleming.