The Lorain County Safe Community Coalition is joining with 12 area McDonald’s Restaurants and local law enforcement Agencies for Buckle Up for Burgers. During pre-selected times between May 21 and May 25 drive-thru customers who are caught wearing their seat belts will receive a coupon for a free hamburger. Those not buckled up will get a friendly reminder to buckle up. This event is part of the national Click It or Ticket seat belt safety campaign.
Beginning May 21 and continuing through June 3, Lorain County Law Enforcement will be watching Lorain County roads and highways for violators of Ohio’s seat belt and child restraint laws. During this time, law enforcement will adopt a zero-tolerance policy for those not buckling up and tickets will be issued to those found in violation of Ohio state law. Officers encourage drivers to “click it” or expect a “ticket.”
In Avon Lake, Buckle Up signs can be seen throughout town.
Seat belts are the most effective safety feature ever invented and have helped save thousands of lives. In 2010 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives nationwide. Wearing a seat belt is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself, your friends and your family during a crash.
The Click it or Ticket campaign is a national movement coordinated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
- Drivers and passengers are 45 percent more likely to survive a crash if you are buckled up.
- Nearly half of the Lorain County fatalities in 2011 involved an unbuckled driver or passenger.
- In 2010, 22,187 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in motor vehicle crashes, according to NHTSA, and 51 percent of them were not wearing seat belts at the time of their fatal crashes.
