Analyzing the First Years of the Click It or Ticket Mobilizations(Report)

The Click It or Ticket (CIOT) seat belt enforcement programs conducted between 2000 and 2006 were important factors in increasing seat belt use nationwide and in virtually all States. This was the case for observed seat belt use, seat belt use in fatalities, and self-reported seat belt use.  As enforcement programs continued across the country and belt use increased, public awareness and attitudes changed as well, with growing support for primary belt laws and belt enforcement.  Among state with secondary seat belt enforcement laws, where an officer must first stop a vehicle for some other violation before issuing a seat belt citation, the States that increased seat belt use the most had greater levels of enforcement. Primary law States (where an officer can issue a belt citation upon observing an unbelted motorist like all other traffic laws) had substantially higher seat belt use and higher levels of enforcement than secondary States. States that converted from secondary to primary laws during the period showed the greatest increase in belt use.