As motorists take to the roads during Memorial Day weekend, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s deputies are urging everyone to use their seatbelts. Santa Clarita law enforcement officials will participate in the 2013 national “Click It or Ticket” seat belt law campaign, looking for motorists who are not belted.

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“We just want people to be safe and drive safe,” said Sgt. Richard Cohen.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 52 percent of the 21,253 people killed in crashes during 2011 were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of the collision.

Deaths involving seatbelt non-use are more common at night. Sixty-two percent of the 10,135 people killed in nighttime crashes in 2011 were not wearing their seatbelts, according to NHTSA.

These national statistics are mirrored locally. Cohen said that in Santa Clarita, there was one unrestrained vehicle occupant killed at night. This is compared to zero who were unrestrained and killed during daytime crashes.

In 2011, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide according to NHTSA.

This year’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign runs from May 20 through June 2, when officers will be “more vigilant,” though seat belt laws are enforced year-round, according to Cohen.

For more on the national “Click It or Ticket”mobilization, click here.

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