Buckle Up, Lower Moreland: 3-Week Seatbelt Enforcement Campaign Starts Today

Buckle up — or pay up.

Starting today, 87 local police departments across southeastern Pennsylvania, including Lower Moreland Township, have launched a seatbelt enforcement effort through June 5.

The increased enforcement, part of the statewide Click It Or Ticket campaign, goes through June 5 and will include Memorial Day weekend.

Municipal police departments from Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties will focus on roadways with a high number of unbelted crashes, injuries and deaths through enforcement and public awareness activities, PennDOT says.

Tickets of up to $75 are possible for violators.

"The enforcement, coupled with educational outreach efforts, aims to increase seat-belt use and raise awareness of the state’s primary law stating all vehicle occupants under 18 years old must wear a seat belt. Drivers and front-seat passengers over 18 years old who are cited for another traffic violation will receive a second ticket if they’re unbuckled," PennDOT said.

Pennsylvania recorded another decrease in seat belt use in 2015 with an observed rate of 83.6 percent, according to data from PennDOT. That is the lowest rate since 2005.

"The proper use of a seat belt can increase your chances of surviving a crash by up to 60 percent," according to information from PennDOT.

According to PennDOT data, there were 3,440 crashes in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties in 2015 in which people were not wearing seat belts, with 64 people dying in those crashes.

For more information on PennDOT’s seat belt efforts visit JustDrivePA.com.