The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) spearheads a critical initiative aimed at the state’s youngest drivers, the Teen Click It or Ticket campaign. This effort underscores a stark reality: teenagers are among the least likely to buckle up, and this simple act—or the failure to perform it—can be the difference between life and death on the road.
Car accidents remain a leading cause of teen fatalities in Texas. Still, officials are emphasizing that many of these tragedies could be averted with the simple act of clicking a seat belt. “It’s not just about complying with the law; it’s fundamentally about safety,” explained Sgt. Rob Mallory from the Texas Department of Public Safety. The statistics are compelling: 86% of individuals who survived fatal crashes wore their seat belts at the time of the accident. Conversely, the absence of a seat belt drastically increases the risk, with those ejected from a vehicle during a crash being 20 times more likely to die from their injuries.
The urgency of this campaign is underscored by the sobering statistics shared by Rickey Dailey of TxDOT. In 2022, the state mourned the loss of 162 teenage drivers who were not restrained at the time of their accidents—a noticeable increase from 144 in the previous year. To put this into a heart-wrenching perspective, Dailey likened this number to “three full school buses” of young lives lost prematurely.
Dailey and TxDOT advocate for universal seat belt usage, stressing that this practice should be customary for every journey, regardless of distance or duration. He highlighted the importance of role modeling, particularly by parents, in instilling this lifesaving habit in their children. The data from 2022 reveals a grim picture: over half of the 320 teenagers aged 15-20 who died in car crashes in Texas were not wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.
“The seat belt is unequivocally your best defense in the event of a car crash,” Dailey emphasized, noting that 51% of teenage fatalities in car crashes in 2022 occurred among those not wearing seat belts. This statistic is a stark reminder of the protective power of seat belts, which has been repeatedly demonstrated across numerous studies and real-life incidents.
The campaign’s relevance is further highlighted by specific incidents within the Corpus Christi District, encompassing ten counties, where eight severe crashes in 2022 involved unrestrained teens. Sgt. Mallory shared a poignant anecdote about two teenagers who lost their lives on Highway 359, neither of whom were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident. He challenged drivers and passengers alike to reconsider their views on seat belt usage, framing it as a personal commitment to those who love and care about them: “Consider your reason for buckling up—there are people in your life who want to avoid the heartbreak of wondering if a seat belt could have saved you.”
In Texas, the law is clear: everyone in a vehicle must wear a seat belt, irrespective of where they are seated. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to $200, a small price compared to the potential cost of not wearing one. Law enforcement officials stress that seat belt usage is not just a front-seat responsibility but equally crucial in the back seat.
Through the Teen Click It or Ticket campaign, TxDOT is making a compelling case for the critical role of seat belts in enhancing road safety, especially for the state’s youngest drivers. The message is clear: a simple click can make a monumental difference, potentially saving lives and sparing families from unimaginable loss.