VALDOSTA — This week marked the beginning of the annual Click It or Ticket initiative across Georgia.
During this heavily traveled period, described as one of the deadliest times of the year due to low safety belt use, motorists can expect high visibility safety belt checkpoints and concentrated law enforcement patrol activity to ensure safe driving. The campaign runs through Sunday, May 31, and all seat belt violators will be ticketed on the first offense.
“This time of year is especially busy and the dangers increase on the highways,” Georgia Department of Public Safety Col. Bill Hitchens said in a press release. “This program is designed to educate the motoring public of the dangers they face each day on our nation’s highways. Obeying the posted speed limit, not drinking and driving and making sure everyone is wearing a seat belt when they travel are the best steps drivers can take to prevent traffic deaths and serious injuries.”
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that more than 70 percent of passenger vehicle occupants nationwide survive serious crashes when they wear seat belts correctly. Seat belts are also reported to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent.
According to the Official Code of Georgia 40-8-76.1, failure to wear a safety belt results in a $15 fine for adults over the age of 18. Anyone between 6 and 17 years old is required to be restrained in a safety belt in all seating positions, and failure to do so results in a $25 fine for the driver of the vehicle. Failure to properly restrain children under 6 years old in age and weight appropriate child restraints or booster seats may result in a fine up to $50 and one point. Points and fines are doubled if a driver has a second conviction.
100 Days of Summer HEAT campaign
This year’s Click It or Ticket initiative is being held in conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety’s Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) Campaign, 100 Days of Summer HEAT, to combat dangerous and aggressive drivers.
The campaign is designed to reduce high-fatality crash counts during the summer holiday season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Aggressive drivers will be ticketed on the first offense.
“The message to Georgia’s high-risk drivers is clear,” said GOHS Director Bob Dallas. “Safety belt, DUI and speed law violations will not be tolerated. So, once again it’s time to buckle up, secure the kids in their safety seats, drive soberly and obey the speed limits during the summer holiday driving period.”
Dallas added that driving at or below the designated speed limit saves gas.
“Speed is not only a killer on our roads, it’s also murder on the wallet. Besides getting a ticket, speeding, jack-rabbit starts and sudden stops waste gas,” Dallas said in the release. “Your car’s fuel efficiency begins to rapidly decrease at speeds over 60 miles per hour. As a rule of thumb, every five miles per hour you drive over 60 is like paying at least 20 cents more a gallon at the pump.”
According to the Official Code of Georgia 40-6-1, the maximum fine imposed as punishment for a first offense speed limit violator is $25 for five to 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, $100 for 10 to 14 miles per hour over, $125 for 14 to 19 miles per hour over, $150 for 19 to 24 miles per hour over and $500 for 24 to 34 miles per hour more.
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