HARRISBURG – Gov. Edward G. Rendell has proclaimed May 12 as Buckle Up Pennsylvania Day, reminding all motorists to buckle up each time they get behind the wheel.
“I encourage everyone to always wear their seatbelt in a vehicle,” PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E., said. “Not only is it the law, but buckling your seatbelt could save your life or the life of a loved one.”
More than 400 local police departments and Pennsylvania State Police will join 47 other states in the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign, May 12 – June 1. Pennsylvania’s seatbelt law states that unbelted drivers who are stopped and cited for a traffic violation can receive a second citation for failure to wear a seatbelt.
Although Pennsylvania recorded its fewest unbelted fatalities in the past 25 years, 559 people lost their lives last year because they were not properly restrained.
“Clearly, we are making progress in our efforts to get Pennsylvanians to buckle up whenever they travel,” State Police Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller said. “But we still have a long way to go and the Click It or Ticket campaign is part of our continuing push for safety on the highways.”
Pennsylvania law requires all front seat passengers to buckle up and children ages 4 to 8 be restrained in an appropriate booster seat when riding anywhere in a vehicle. In addition, children ages 8 to 18 must be in a seatbelt when riding anywhere in the vehicle. Both of these laws are secondary, which means drivers can be ticketed only when cited for another traffic violation such as speeding.
The state’s primary child passenger safety law states that children under the age of four must be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat anywhere in the vehicle. The fine for non-use of child safety and booster seats is a maximum of $100 in addition to other costs. Failure to comply with the seatbelt law can result in a penalty of $60, including the fine and other costs.
In 2007, Pennsylvania registered a seatbelt use rate greater than 86 percent for the second consecutive year, qualifying the state for additional federal funding. Pennsylvania was awarded $28 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the funds will be invested in highway safety projects across the state.