Photo: TuiPhotoengineer / iStock / Getty Images
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) have launched the annual "Click It or Ticket" campaign, running from Monday (May 11) through Sunday (May 31). This initiative aims to increase seat belt use and enhance road safety across the state.
During the campaign, state troopers certified as child passenger safety technicians will offer free child seat fitting events. These events help ensure that car seats are in good working condition, properly installed, and free from recalls. A complete list of event days and times is available on the PSP website.
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll emphasized that the campaign is about saving lives, not issuing citations. "Wearing a seat belt can increase your chances of surviving a crash by 60 percent," he said. In 2025, there were 9,696 crashes in Pennsylvania where at least one occupant was not wearing a seat belt, resulting in 259 fatalities and 733 serious injuries. It is estimated that 90 percent of unbelted occupants who died in crashes could have survived if they had been buckled up.
Pennsylvania law mandates that drivers, front-seat passengers, and anyone under 18 must wear a seat belt. Additional requirements apply to young children, including the use of rear-facing car seats for those under age 2 and booster seats for children up to age 8.
On Thursday (May 21), police across Pennsylvania will participate in nighttime traffic enforcement using patrols, traffic enforcement zones, and speed enforcement details on roadways with high rates of unbuckled crashes. The campaign is part of Pennsylvania’s Highway Safety Program, funded through federal support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For more information on safe driving in Pennsylvania, visit PennDOT's safety page.