Buckle up each and every time you’re on the roadway

The Wisconsin State Patrol is joining law enforcement agencies across the state and nation, to remind drivers and passengers of the lifesaving value of wearing a seat belt. Officers are stepping up seat belt enforcement and education, during the national Click It or Ticket campaign, from May 19-June 1 this year.

“Wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest and most effective ways, to reduce injuries and save lives during a crash,” said Wisconsin State Patrol superintendent Tim Carnahan. “We should hold each other accountable and set a positive example for others in the vehicle. We all have a part in keeping our roads safe.”

Fewer motorists buckled up in 2024, compared to the previous year. A survey conducted in 2024, reported that approximately 89 percent of Wisconsin motorists wear a seat belt, a decrease from 92 percent in 2023.

The Click It or Ticket campaign aims to improve this percentage, and encourage more motorists to buckle up.

Wisconsin’s primary seat belt law allows law enforcement to stop and cite motorists for failing to wear a seat belt. Penalties are higher for transporting unrestrained children and passengers can also be cited.

One focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign, is nighttime enforcement. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a higher number of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities happen at night.

In 2023, 56 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night, were not wearing their seat belts.

“Putting on a seat belt helps us achieve zero deaths on Wisconsin’s roads,” said Carnahan. “Let’s work together to make buckling up a habit – every trip, every time.”