"Most people realize how important it is to buckle up for safety. New Jersey has come a long way in increasing the use of seat belts, but too many motorists still do not buckle up," said Governor James E. McGreevey. "Our focus now must be to convince remaining non seat belt-users to buckle up."

“More people wearing seat belts means more lives being saved and injuries being reduced,” said Attorney General Peter C. Harvey. “Motorists need to remember that air bags alone are not enough to protect you in a crash. Make the connection by buckling up on every trip.”

Observational seat belt surveys were conducted during June at 117 locations in nine New Jersey counties (Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cumberland, Mercer, Middlesex, Ocean, Somerset and Union). In all, occupants of 21,040 passenger cars were observed.

According to Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Roberto Rodriguez, a key reason for the latest increase in the usage rate was the high visibility enforcement of New Jersey’s Primary Seat Belt law during May’s “Click It or Ticket” statewide enforcement campaign. In all, 266 municipal police departments participated in the “Click It or Ticket” program along with NJ State Police. The 267 participating departments issued a total of 22,941 seat belt summonses to motorists who were not buckled up. The Division awarded “Click It or Ticket” grants to 69 municipal police agencies. The remaining departments dedicated officers to the campaign on their own.

“I am very thankful that New Jersey’s law enforcement community embraced this program and played such a pivotal role in it’s success,” said Director Rodriguez. “We will not waiver in our effort to educate state residents about the importance of using their seat belt. The message is clear: Seat belts remain the most effective means of avoiding death or serious injury in a crash. All New Jersey residents need to buckle up on every trip.”

The “Click It or Ticket” enforcement effort was supported by a $487,000 radio advertising campaign in which seat belt safety commercials were aired during May on 53 radio stations in New Jersey, New York City and Philadelphia.

The Mission of the Division of Highway of Highway Traffic Safety is to reduce fatalities, injuries and property damage on the roads of New Jersey resulting from traffic crashes. To achieve its mission, the Division undertakes traffic safety programs relating to Education, Enforcement and Engineering. The bulk of the Division’s funding comes from the federal government, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The funding received by the Division is used to undertake state-wide traffic safety programs and is also dispersed to local, county and state agencies in the form of traffic safety grants.