As motorists take to the roads this Memorial Day holiday, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriffs are urging everyone to buckle up. Santa Clarita law enforcement officials will be lending their support to the 2013 national Click It or Ticket seat belt law campaign and looking for motorists who are not belted.

“As we kick-off the busy summer driving season it’s important that everyone buckles up every time they go out, both day and night – no excuses,” said Captain Becker. “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing their seat belt – Click It or Ticket.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 52 percent of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. Deaths involving seat belt non-use are more prevalent at night than during the daytime. According to NHTSA, 62 percent of the 10,135 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 during the overnight hours were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.

Tragically, these national statistics are mirrored locally. In Santa Clarita, there was one unrestrained vehicle occupant killed at night, compared to zero who were unrestrained and killed during daytime crashes.

“Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists are still not buckling up, especially at night when the risk of getting in a crash is even greater,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “We want everyone to have a safe summer, but it requires an important step on the part of motorists – clicking that seat belt.”

In 2011, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide according to NHTSA. While this year’s Click It or Ticket campaign runs from May 20 through June 2, officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.