AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — TxDOT began its 2024 “Teen Click It or Ticket” campaign traveling the state from Feb. 1 through Feb. 15, urging all teens to buckle up for every seat and every ride.
According to TxDOT, vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for U.S. teenagers and in Texas the number of teenagers killed who weren’t wearing a seatbelt increased to 162 in 2022 compared to 144 in 2021. In 2022, 51% of teens killed in vehicle crashes in Texas were not wearing seat belts, officials noted.
TxDOT officials also noted that in 2022, there were 11 crashes in the Amarillo district in which unrestrained teen occupants sustained fatal or serious injuries, resulting in 3 deaths and 11 serious injuries.
“We want to remind our teens to always buckle up, no matter how far the drive,” said Marc Williams, TxDOT executive director. “It only takes a few seconds to put on your seat belt, and that simple click can save a life.”
According to TxDOT officials, the campaign tour will include a mobile digital vehicle featuring screens displaying safety information and a trailer with wreckage from a truck crash that involved two teens who walked away with minor injuries because they were wearing seatbelts.