"Click It or Ticket" Enforcement Coming for Memorial Day Holiday

SAN ANGELO, TX – The Tom Green County Sheriff's Office in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation will be participating in the Memorial Day Weekend "Click It or Ticket" campaign.

According to the TGCSO, on May 19, this extra enforcement period will start in May and end in June.

"The goal of this campaign, is to reduce traffic related crashes and injuries, while maintaining safe roadways for all travelers," stated the press release. "Deputies will be monitoring the highways for speeding, occupant safety restraints, and possible intoxicated drivers."

The CDC says that seat belts dramatically reduce risk of death and serious injury. Among drivers and front-seat passengers, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45%, and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%.

They also prevent drivers and passengers from being ejected during a crash. People not wearing a seat belt are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash. More than 3 out of 4 people who are ejected during a fatal crash die from their injuries.

Seat belts save thousands of lives each year, and increasing use would save thousands more. Seat belts saved almost 13,000 lives in 2009. If all drivers and passengers had worn seat belts that year, almost 4,000 more people would be alive today.