California Unveils Click It or Ticket Seat Belt Campaign

SAN DIEGO--May 4, 2005--Together with state and local officials, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D., and California Highway Patrol Deputy Commissioner Joe Farrow today kicked off Click It Or Ticket -- California's new seat belt campaign designed to save lives and prevent injuries.

The campaign kickoff to increase seat belt use in California, currently 90.4 percent, will be followed by a $3.3 million statewide media blitz beginning May 9, 2005 and running through June 5. Throughout the campaign, the California Highway Patrol and law enforcement officers across the state will focus on seat belt enforcement. The campaign is held in connection with the ABC Buckle Up America campaign being held nationally.

"We applaud the California Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies throughout the state for joining us in this important effort," Dr. Runge said. "Strong laws and high visibility enforcement are proven ways to increase safety belt use. So today we remind people to click it -- or expect a ticket."

The announcement was made during a 10 a.m. press conference today at the 2005 Office of Traffic Safety Summit at the Hyatt Manchester Grand Hotel, San Diego. Themed Changing People, Saving Lives, the Summit is attended by more than 650 state and national traffic safety advocates and stakeholders. Flanking Dr. Runge at the event was San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne, Office of Traffic Safety Director Christopher J. Murphy, Caltrans District 4 Deputy Director Joe Hull, and victims advocate, Lynne Goodwin.

CHP Deputy Commissioner Farrow, long an advocate of increased education on the effectiveness of seat belt safety, said that the patrol is deeply committed toward raising seat belt use in California. "The simplest and most effective action a motor vehicle driver or occupant can do to save their life is to spend two seconds and buckle a seat belt."

The California Office of Traffic Safety recently awarded more than $4.8 million to 250 local law enforcement agencies to pay for officer overtime associated with seat belt enforcement.

Dr. Runge credited several state departments and organizations for their substantive involvement with the high-visibility Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilizations. Among them: the California Highway Patrol, Office of Traffic Safety, California Department of Transportation, Department of Motor Vehicles, and the California Police Chiefs Association.