Gov. Heineman, NHTSA & Law Enforcement Kick-Off
‘Click It or Ticket’ Campaign

(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman was joined by Dr. Jeffrey Runge, who is the head of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), and more than 50 law enforcement agencies from Nebraska and Iowa at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha to promote the “Click It or Ticket” Mobilization. This is the first time the two states have partnered to promote the national safety campaign that begins May 23 and runs through June 5.

“With this and the peak travel season just around the corner, the “Click It or Ticket” mobilization provides an important opportunity to remind motorists about the high priority we should all place on traffic safety,” Gov. Heineman said. “Using a safety restraint is one of the simplest life-saving measures we can take to protect ourselves and our families.”

The Governor highlighted Nebraska’s participation in previous mobilization efforts as contributing to the nine percent increase in safety belt use and 18 percent increase in child restraint use during the last three years. The number of people seriously injured in crashes has decreased by 10 percent, and the fatality rate for crashes has tied with the lowest rate ever recorded in Nebraska.

In 2004, the Nebraska State Patrol wrote 1,029 seatbelt-use citations and issued more than 8,600 warnings. Troopers wrote 636 tickets for drivers with children passengers who were not properly restrained and issued 859 warnings. Other data shows that 219 people died from injuries sustained in Nebraska traffic crashes in 2004. Of those, 146 were not wearing seatbelts.

NHTSA Administrator Dr. Runge said, “Law enforcement agencies across the county, including those in Nebraska and Iowa, will expand their traffic enforcement efforts, placing a special emphasis on child restraint and safety belt violations. This year’s media campaign will also expand in focus to include drivers of pickup trucks and young drivers ages 16-24, two groups known to have particularly low belt-use rates.”

Nebraska Highway Safety Administrator Fred Zwonechek said, “A total of 68 Nebraska law enforcement agencies have signed up to participate in this safety effort, with more than 40 receiving highway safety grants to provide for nearly $270,000 in overtime costs for law enforcement personnel. Our best estimate is that more than 10,000 hours of additional traffic enforcement will take place in Nebraska during this year’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign.”

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