State Representative Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield), a member of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, and Lt. Governor Michael Fedele were present as Connecticut kicked off its 2010 “Click It or Ticket” campaign on May 20th. The goal is to get drivers to buckle up when they get behind the wheel.

A ceremony was held at the State Department of Transportation headquarters to announce the campaign, which runs from May 24 through June 6. It was enthusiastically attended by uniformed law enforcement officers from throughout Connecticut.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 12,000 passenger vehicle occupants died in traffic crashes between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in 2008. 64% of those victims died because they didn’t have a seat belt on.

Hwang noted that seat belts work, especially considering that when worn correctly they reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants by 45% and 60% in pick-up trucks, SUVs and mini vans.

Yet nearly one in five Americans still fail to wear their belt regularly, statistics that hold up in Connecticut. The program seeks to encourage constant seat belt use by highlighting enforcement during the “Click It or Ticket” campaign.

The ceremony took a poignant turn when Tom Geary, father of Cassie Geary, a 17 year driver who died from injuries suffered from an accident. The fatal accident occurred when Cassie’s car, travelling at under 35 miles per hour, slipped on a patch of black ice and hit a tree. She was not wearing her seat belt and was thrown from the automobile. Mr. Geary spoke of the pain his family still endures, but in turn motivated the family to create “Click it for Cassie” an educational seat belt safety program targeted at teen-ager drivers. Read More→