Friday is National Seatbelt Day, and it is happening at the same time as a Joining Forces Click It or Ticket Campaign that ends on December 1.
37 agencies are participating, putting extra personnel on the roads to catch people who are breaking the law by not wearing their seatbelts.
Nevada Highway Patrol reminds people to wear their seatbelts on National Seatbelt Day.
But even though this campaign is still around, officers just want people to get the memo and be safe and responsible.
Sgt. Chris Brown, Public Information Officer for Nevada Highway Patrol, says, "It's sad that it's still around as much as we talk about the simple fact of putting a seatbelt on and how it can save lives, and the fact that we constantly have to remind drivers to put that seatbelt back on and realistically, the fact that I'm still contacting folks who aren't wearing a seatbelt. And it's not just adults, it's also children, drivers who are not buckling up children, making sure their child is in the proper restraints."
Putting a seatbelt on is a simple maneuver that will help save your life if you do end up getting into a crash.
Sergeant Brown also points out how important it is for children to be secure in a vehicle.
"The statistics from 2019 to 2023 show that 54% of unrestrained child deaths were in rural Nevada," he said. "When we look at that one thing, it tells me I'm assuming we're taking a lot of road trips; you get there, and kids are unbuckled or napping, so really you have to remember where you're going, put that seatbelt on, and make sure your children are buckled up."
Sergeant Brown says he also sees children not wearing their seatbelts when parents drop them off at school.
When you get in your car, the simplest thing you can do before you put the car in drive is to make sure everyone is buckled up.
Sergeant Brown reminds everyone that traffic safety as a whole is a community effort.
"I can stand here on camera and ask and beg that you please slow down and buckle up and drive safely," he said. "But it's not just me; it's not just my partners that are out there trying to educate the public. It's all of us that need to work together to make sure we are driving as safely as possible every time we get behind the wheel."
He also tells us the traffic patterns are getting worse, too, so we all need to be diligent.
"One big thing is every time you get behind the wheel, you're not only taking your life in your hands, but you're also taking everyone else's life on the roadway in your hands. So, make sure you're in the proper mindset, and make sure you're focused 110% on safely driving that vehicle and not getting distracted."
