Click It or Ticket effort throughout October aims to boost seat belt usage
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CHARLESTON -- The West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program and law enforcement statewide will conduct the Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement mobilization from today through the end of the month.
This mobilization is part of the GHSP's continual efforts to increase seat belt usage, and ultimately save lives, in West Virginia, according to a release from the program.
The October Click It or Ticket mobilization runs in conjunction with Operation Crash Reduction, a regional campaign aimed at reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities during the Columbus Day weekend (Friday through Monday). Historically, it is one of the deadliest holiday weekends for fatal crashes, the release said.
In 2023, there were 260 fatalities on West Virginia's roadways. Of those 27% were occupants who were unrestrained. Of 177 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities, 40% were unrestrained.
As part of the mobilization, law enforcement officers across West Virginia will be out in full force, ticketing drivers who are caught traveling without a correctly buckled seat belt or transporting unrestrained children, the release said.
"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," said GHSP Division Manager Amy Boggs. "Too many people die on our roads because they were not buckled up or not buckled up correctly."
"At the current statewide seat belt usage rate of nearly 92%, unbuckled drivers or passengers have a higher likelihood of being killed if they are in a crash," said GHSP Director Jack McNeely. "Seat belts save lives. Not buckling up is not worth the risk. Click it. Don't risk it."
Wearing a seat belt is required by law, the release said, but the $25 violators pay if ticketed pales in comparison to a life lost.
More information about the West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program is available online at or by calling 304-926-2509.