For example, Illinois statistics show that when a driver is buckled, restraint use for children is 71 percent. When a driver is unbuckled, restraint for children is only 28 percent. It is important that motorists understand the importance of buckling up every time they get into a vehicle. Motorists are as likely to be killed or injured on a sunny side street or secondary road as they are on a rainy highway. I think I speak for every law enforcement officer in the state when I say I would rather write 100 seat belt tickets than tell a family that a loved one died needlessly because they failed to wear their seat belt.
Citizens can help in the effort to save lives.
If they see a child who is unrestrained, they are urged to dial 800.764.5755 to report the license number of vehicles with unbuckled children. The National Safety Council will send a letter to the owners of vehicles that have been reported, cautioning them that allowing a child to ride unbuckled is dangerous and illegal, and that if they are stopped by police they could be ticketed and fined. The first Illinois Click it or Ticket Mobilization begins May 22nd and runs through June 4th. Our compliments to the young drivers who are now setting the example.