Wilmington Police Buckling Down on Seatbelt Violations

Wilmington Police will be on the lookout for seatbelt violations this month as they join departments from around the state in the Click It Or Ticket initiative.

The Click It Or Ticket Initiative is funded through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security's Highway Safety Division.

“Memorial Day traditionally kicks off the busy summer driving season,” said Wilmington Police Chief Michael Begonis in a statement announcing the program. “Safety belts and properly installed child safety seats are your best defense against drunk, aggressive and distracted drivers, as well as your own mistakes.”

From May 19 through June 1, police around the state will especially be honing in on safety belt violators, Begonis said.

Statistics indicate that in Massachusetts in 2012, an estimated 50 lives could have been saved if all drivers wore their seat belts. 

Police said that national data proves that nighttime drivers are less likely to buckle up than daytime drivers.

According to the statistics, 10,480 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in motor vehicle crashes between the hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. in 2012. Of those crash victims, 55 percent were not wearing seat belts compared to 41 percent of occupants killed during daytime hours, police said.

Beginning on Monday, police across the state will aim to send a zero tolerance message that if drivers are not buckled, they will receive a ticket as a part of the "Border to Border" operation.

“Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists are still not buckling up, especially at night when the risk of getting in a crash is even greater,” said Begonis. "We want to make this the safest summer possible.  Buckling up is not optional; it’s the difference between life and death in a crash.  That’s why we’re out enforcing the law. Click It Or Ticket, every time, day or night.”