Texas Border Business
McALLEN, Texas – TxDOT officials, community participants and law enforcement gathered for a press conference against the backdrop of a Click It or Ticket-branded lifted truck to underscore the fact that pickup-truck drivers and passengers still lag behind others in seat belt use.
Every person in every car and truck on Texas roads needs to buckle up. Wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of dying in a crash by up to 60%. But despite how easy and effective buckling up can be, millions of people in Texas still skip this simple step and risk their lives.
In 2023, 1,183 people who were not wearing their seat belt died in crashes on Texas roads. Even one preventable death on the road is too many, so as part of the annual Click It or Ticket campaign, TxDOT will be traveling the state to urge Texans to take the extra few seconds to buckle their seat belt the next time they get into a vehicle. It could save their life or the life of a loved one.
To add extra motivation, Texas law enforcement will step up enforcement of the state’s seat belt laws from May 20 through June 2, including Memorial Day weekend. Texas law requires everyone in a vehicle to buckle up or face fines and court costs up to $200. Children younger than 8 years old must be in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they’re taller than 4 feet 9 inches. If they aren’t properly restrained, the driver faces fines up to $250, plus court costs.
Click It or Ticket is 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.
