Beginning next week, drivers will notice an increased presence of law enforcement on Iowa’s roadways as the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) kick off their annual Click It or Ticket campaign. The two-week operation begins Monday, May 22. District 4 Trooper and Public Resource Officer Shelby McCreedy says the focus is on seatbelt usage.
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According to the Iowa DOT, 338 people died on Iowa’s roadways last year, and 135 of them, or about 55 percent, either were not wearing a seatbelt or usage could not be determined. McCreedy says it isn’t about just avoiding a ticket; it is about saving lives.
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The campaign runs through Sunday, June 4 and includes Memorial Day weekend, which McCreedy says tends to be one of the deadliest holidays for Iowa motorists.
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As of this (Thursday) morning, the Iowa DOT has recorded 113 traffic fatalities so far this year, and 58 of them, or about 60 percent, have been unrestrained. These figures do not include vehicles without seatbelts, such as motorcycles or ATVs, and pedestrians. Iowa is 11 deaths ahead of last year at this point and 20 percent higher than the five-year average. Do your part and buckle up.