A new seat belt enforcement effort is underway in the City of Lincoln. LPD Public Information Manager Erika Thomas says they will be taking part in the national ‘Make It Click’ campaign through May 30.
She says LPD officers are focusing on evening and weekends, peak times when seatbelt use tends to drop. “Officers will take a zero-tolerance approach to unbelted drivers and passengers,” Thomas says. “LPD will increase patrols citywide, especially in areas with higher crash rates and known seatbelt violations.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration more than 50% of people killed in crashes nationwide were not wearing seatbelts according to data from 2022. “Seatbelts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passengers by 45 percent and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50 percent,” according to Thomas.
“Most unbuckled deaths occur at night, making this campaign’s focus on evening hours especially critical.” The campaign is funded through the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office and aims to reduce serious injuries and fatalities by promoting seatbelt use.