For more than a decade, the month of October has proven to be one of the most dangerous months for drivers in West Virginia with 309 total traffic fatalities from 2011-20. Some of these deaths may have been prevented had the vehicle occupants been wearing a seatbelt.
In 2021, 40% of people who died in car accidents in the state were not properly restrained, according to a press release from the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP).
As part of their continuous efforts to increase seat belt usage year-round, the GHSP and local law enforcement statewide are teaming up for a high-visibility enforcement mobilization from Oct. 6-22, reminding people to “Click it. Don’t risk it.”
Throughout the two weeks, law enforcement officers across the state will be out in full force giving tickets to those caught traveling without a seatbelt or transporting unrestrained children.
“We want all drivers and passengers traveling in West Virginia to be safe on the roadways and to always wear their seat belt,” said Gov. Jim Justice.
Wearing a seatbelt is required by law and the current penalty in West Virginia for failure to buckle up is a $25 fine, but this shouldn’t be the only reason to comply.
“At the current statewide seat belt usage rate of 92.5%, unbuckled drivers or passengers have a 20.1 times higher likelihood of being killed if they are in a crash. The reality is: seat belts save lives. Not buckling up is not worth the risk. Click It. Don’t Risk It,” said GHSP Occupant Protection Program Coordinator Amy Boggs.
Individual law enforcement agencies have the option of conducting seat belt checkpoints, however, according to Jake Flatley, transportation public information specialist at the West Virginia Department of Transportation public relations division, agencies tend to have officers conduct patrols more often than checkpoints.
Flatley said there are four “Click it. Don’t risk it.” mobilizations each grant year. State mobilizations are done in October, March and August. In May, the mobilization is a national event.
According to GHSP, October’s statewide effort will run in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Operation Crash Reduction, a regional mobilization which includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Operation Crash Reduction will run from Oct. 6-9.
The two traffic safety initiatives are conducted during the Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day weekend because historically it has been one of the deadliest holiday weekends for fatal car crashes in our region, according to a press release.
With Operation Crash Reduction, officers will be checking other behaviors that contribute to overall crashes and fatal crashes in West Virginia.
“Impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding and aggressive driving,” Flatley said. “Law enforcement will be looking for all of these throughout Operation Crash Reduction.”
Over the past three years, around 7,821 seat belt citations were written on average each year in West Virginia.
“As we continue to work to spread lifesaving seat belt messaging, we ask that every driver and passenger take responsibility when they are driving or riding in vehicles. Too many people die on our roads because they were not buckled or not buckled correctly,” Boggs said.
The GHSP warns if you are caught driving while unbuckled and you get a ticket, look at it as your wake-up call. A ticket is far less expensive than paying with your life or the lives of your family and friends.
For more information about the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.
