Police: It's Time to Click It ...

It's Click-it or Ticket Week in towns throughout the area both this week and next. 

That might not be the official name for it, but state and local police throughout the area will be out in force to promote federal seat belt laws. 

"The goal is to save more lives, so we will be enforcing seat belt laws around the clock," Lt. John Kelley if the Vernon Police Department said. "Seal belt use saves thousands of lives across America each year and we are helping spread the word."

Locally, departments will use independent patrols and use checkpoints through Metro Traffic Services, a coalition of local officers. For example, Vernon has a checkpoint scheduled for Thursday from May 30, from 8 a.m. to noon at a place to be determined. 

Coventry Police Chief Mark Palmer said local patrols will be utilized in addition to Metro Traffic Services programs. The main routes to the University of Connecticut pass through Coventry. 

State Police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said that units working out of the Troop C barracks - and throughout the state - will pay particular attention to entrance and exit ramps along the state's highways, but also keep it simple with roving patrols through the areas serves by the resident trooper programs. 

"There is no excuse," Vance said. "Motorists should wearing their seat belts."

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2011 nationally, 77 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were thrown from their vehicles were killed. 

Just 1 percent of crash victims who were buckled up were totally ejected from their vehicles, compared to 31 percent of those who were unbelted. Motorists are 75 percent less likely to be killed in a rollover crash if they are buckled up. 
In 2011 alone, seat belts saved as estimated 11,949 lives nationwide, according to the agency.

The enhanced enforcement efforts will take place through June 2, police said.