The Texas Department of Transportion is continuing their “Teen Click It or Ticket” campagin through February.
According to the TxDOT, nearly a quarter of vehicle crashes in 2021 in Texas involved a teen driver.
“Too many parents are living their worst fear: losing a child,” stated a TxDOT representative. “These parents have lost teenagers in vehicle crashes in which they weren’t wearing their seat belt.”
Vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for U.S. teenagers, and TxDOT’s campaign is urging teens to buckle up, every seat and every ride.
According to TxDOT, seat belts offer the best protection in a crash, but sadly seat belt use remains low among teen drivers and passengers.
In 2021, 45 percent or 144 of 318 of teens killed in vehicle crashes were not wearing seat belts.
“We want to remind teens to always buckle their seat belts. Everyone must buckle up: every rider, every ride,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “It takes only a few seconds to put on your seat belt, and those few seconds can save a life.”
During Feb. 1- 15, the campaign was rolled out statewide, seeking to reach Texas teens with its imperative seat belt safety message.
The outreach included TV, radio, digital advertising and social media.
Additionally, an interactive element was introduced as the campaign visited several high school campuses across the state with its “Teen Click It or Ticket” mobile digital vehicle.
Teens learned about the Texas law which requires drivers and all passengers to wear seat belts.
Unbuckled drivers and passengers, even those in the back seat can face fines and fees of up to $200.
TxDOT’s “Teen Click It or Ticket” campaign has been a key component of “EndTheStreakTX,” a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel to help end the streak of daily deaths.
November 7, 2000, was the last deathless day on Texas roadways.