“Click it or Ticket” is a national program sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It is the country’s most successful seat belt enforcement campaign ever, helping create the highest observed national seat belt usage rate of 82 percent, and 92% for Nevada.

Nevada Department of Public Safety—Office of Traffic Safety (NDPS) is working with schools and community organizations to spread information about teen seat belt safety and the Click It or Ticket program. Teens have higher fatality and injury rates in motor vehicle crashes than any other age group. One of the most effective measures a teen can take to prevent injury and death in a crash is to wear a seat belt, but the majority of fatally injured teens are not buckled up. While observed seat belt use for teens has risen gradually, the majority of 16-20 year old vehicle occupants killed in car crashes continue to be unrestrained (62% nationally, 59% in Nevada).

In an effort to increase seat belt usage among this age group, NHTSA has provided law enforcement agencies and NDPS with a federal grant to fund increased patrol during four specific enforcement waves in the coming year. During these periods, officers from law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be conducting stepped-up enforcement for seat belt violations and helping spread the message that seat belts save lives.

Click here to download a “Teen Driver Safety Contract” (pdf)
This contract outlines ten specific guidelines and introduces important issues to be addressed by parents when talking with their teens about driving. The contract also serves as a formal agreement to be kept by parents to ensure that teens are complying with the outlined guidelines.

Click here for information on ideas in “Talking to Your Teen about Driver Safety” (pdf)
Along with the contract, DPS-Office of Traffic Safety has prepared a list of reasons it is important to talk to teens about traffic safety. This document provides starter information about risk factors, and important issues for parents to discuss with their teenager.

1) May 18-31, 2009 - Federal, state and local officials will conduct the annual Click It or Ticket (CIOT) seat belt mobilization campaign.

2) Despite the obvious benefits of wearing a seat belt, many people still resist. Law enforcement officers and state highway safety agencies hear some crazy excuses. Click here to see the Top 10 excuses heard by Officers in Delaware for not buckling up, along with responses.

3) Finally, please remind your audience that slowing down even just a little bit will increase their gas mileage and reduce the burden on their wallet. So far, highway safety officials aren’t noticing that the public is slowing down, but hopefully, that will come.