The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and its safety partners are reminding motorists to buckle up in connection with the “Click It or Ticket" Seat Belt Enforcement Mobilization running through June 2.
Representatives from PennDOT, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), the Highway Safety Network, the Erie City Police Department, various municipal police departments and Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook gathered today at Erie City Hall for an event to promote safety on Pennsylvania's roadways and draw attention to the dangers of not using a seat belt.
According to PennDOT data, there were 1,209 statewide roadway fatalities in 2023, including 316 who were not wearing a seat belt. In PennDOT's District 1, which includes Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties, there were 17 unbelted fatalities among the 72 total roadway deaths last year.
While unrestrained fatalities statewide in 2023 reached the lowest number on record, PennDOT continues to urge motorists to do their part to help reduce fatalities to zero by buckling up every trip, every time.
“Many of the deaths on our roadways can be prevented if motorists make the simple choice to always wear their seatbelt," said Austin Soboleski, a Community Traffic Safety Project Coordinator with the Highway Safety Network. “It is the driver's responsibility to ensure every person in the vehicle is properly buckled up before leaving for their destination."
Wearing a seat belt increases a person's chance of survival in a crash by up to 60 percent and can keep motorists secure in their vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
“The numbers don't lie – seat belts save lives," Cook said. “Airbags are not enough on their own to protect motorists. Everyone must wear their seat belt to help avoid some of these tragic outcomes."
Throughout the ongoing “Click It or Ticket" campaign, the Pennsylvania State Police are joining forces with hundreds of municipal law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania and other states to send a zero-tolerance message to motorists that driving or riding without a seat belt will result in a ticket, no matter the state.
Pennsylvania law requires drivers and passengers 18 years and older to wear a seat belt when behind the wheel or in the front passenger seat of a vehicle.
State and municipal police officers will be conducting traffic enforcement zones and roving patrols to encourage seat belt usage and fine those found not following Pennsylvania's laws.
More information on seat belt safety can be found at www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.PennDOT.pa.gov/District1.
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Unrestrained Crash Fatalities (All Ages) in District 1 | | | | | |
|
County | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 5-Year Total |
Crawford | 5 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 25 |
Erie | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 36 |
Forest | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Mercer | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 20 |
Venango | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 18 |
Warren | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
District Total | 23 | 16 | 29 | 20 | 17 | 105 |
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