Bedford Police Department Participating in ‘Click it or Ticket’ Campaign this May

BEDFORD — Police Chief Ken Fong shares that the Bedford Police Department will participate in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) nationwide “Click It or Ticket” campaign throughout May.

Throughout May, Bedford Police Department officers will conduct motor vehicle stops for various violations through the annual campaign in an effort to educate the community on safe seat belt use. 

Wearing a seat belt remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to save lives on the road. According to the NHSTA, seat belts save approximately 15,000 lives each year.

Under Massachusetts law, all drivers and passengers in private passenger motor vehicles are required to wear seat belts, including those seated in the rear. Violations carry a $25 fine for each unbelted occupant. Additionally, children under 8 years old or under 57 inches tall must be secured in a car seat or booster seat, and children under 12 years old are encouraged to ride in the back seat.

Bedford Police would like to share the following safety information from NHTSA:

• Not buckling can result in being ejected from a vehicle during a crash.
• Buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. 
• Improperly wearing a seat belt puts you at risk in a crash. To properly buckle a seat belt:
  • The lap belt and shoulder belt are secured across the pelvis and rib cage, which are better able to withstand crash forces than other parts of your body.
  • Place the shoulder belt across the middle of your chest and away from your neck.
  • The lap belt rests across your hips, not your stomach.
  • NEVER put the shoulder belt behind your back or under an arm.
• Airbags are meant to protect you with seatbelts, not in place of seatbelts. 

Seat belt violations are considered secondary enforcement, meaning a vehicle cannot be stopped solely for a seat belt infraction.

“Wearing your seat belt is one of the easiest decisions you can make to protect yourself and your loved ones,” says Chief Fong. “Our goal through this annual campaign is to promote safety and educate our residents on the dangers of not wearing a seat belt.”

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