Click It or Ticket underway in Flagler County

Public Information Officer Debra Johnson told local St. Johns County reporters with Historic City News that Flagler County motorists and passengers are warned to buckle up or face a possible traffic citation.

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is participating in a statewide “Click It or Ticket” campaign that began last Tuesday, May 18th, and will run through Sunday, June 6th. The campaign covers the Memorial Day weekend that traditionally is a high travel period on Florida highways.

In 2008, 12,671 passenger vehicle occupants died in motor vehicle crashes nationwide between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:59 a.m., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety administration. Nearly two-thirds of those who died were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crashes, compared to less than half of the passenger vehicle occupants who were killed during the daytime hours of 6:00 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.

High visibility enforcement such as the “Click It or Ticket” mobilization is credited with increasing the national belt usage rate from 58 percent in 1994 to 84 percent in 2009.

“The intent here is to save lives, not issue tickets,” said Flagler County Sheriff Donald W. Fleming. “We want everyone in our community to come home safely every day.”