Donald Driver and Rebecca Kleefisch preview upcoming Click It or Ticket mobilization

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and Green Bay Packers’ all-time leading receiver Donald Driver teamed up to deliver a life-saving message to motorists: always wear a safety belt – every trip, every seat.

The event was held at Children’s Hospital to preview the annual Click It or Ticket mobilization set to run May 21 – June 3.

“Over the last decade, Wisconsin’s safety belt use rate has increased from about 74 percent to nearly 90 percent,” Lt. Governor Kleefisch said. “Our comprehensive public education and law enforcement efforts are making a difference. Still, we see too many needless and costly tragedies occur simply because people fail to buckle up.”

As part of Click It or Ticket, hundreds of law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin will patrol in greater numbers and for longer hours to encourage all motorists to wear a safety belt. Last year in Wisconsin, there were 58,899 traffic convictions for failure to fasten a seat belt.

In Wisconsin, law enforcement can stop and cite motorists for failing to wear a safety belt. In addition, drivers can be cited for every unbuckled passenger in their vehicle. Penalties are higher for transporting unrestrained children.

Nationally, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teens and young adults. Key factors in fatal traffic crashes among younger motorists include failure to wear safety belts, combined with inexperience and over-confidence behind the wheel.