The Official Website of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS)

Public Safety

Click It or Ticket Overview


Massachusetts is Serious About Saving Lives
Image of woman putting on seatbelt

The low use of safety belts was a major factor in the 439 fatalities and approximately 5,000 serious injuries and $6.3 billion in economic costs associated with motor vehicle crashes in Massachusetts in 2006.

Since safety belts reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a motor vehicle crash by up to 50%, we can improve highway safety in Massachusetts by getting more people to buckle up with Click It or Ticket.

As of June 2008 belt use in Massachusetts was 67%. The goal for 2009 is to increase belt use to 70%. Yet nationwide belt use was 83% as of 2008.

Massachusetts law requires all occupants to be properly restrained by safety belts when riding in a private passenger motor vehicle, including vans and trucks. Learn more about the Massachusetts Safety Belt Law as well as the Massachusetts Child Passenger Safety Law.

Background

Click It or Ticket is made possible in Massachusetts through federal highway safety grant funding used by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS-HSD).

The Massachusetts Click It or Ticket initiative was started in the fall of 2002. It is based on a successful national model developed by NHTSA that involves two to three week "mobilization" periods of high-visibility traffic enforcement, paid and earned media, and community education.

Elements
  • EOPSS-HSD grants to state and local police for extra traffic enforcement, with special emphasis on the lack of safety belt and child safety seat use;
  • EOPSS-HSD-funded paid and earned media;
  • EOPSS-HSD-supported community education.


2008-2009 Schedule

Fall Mobilization
Nov 10 - Nov 30, 2008

Spring Mobilization
May 11 - May 31, 2009

Summer Mobilization
July 1 - July 21, 2009



Partners
Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, MassHighway, MassPike, Massport, Massachusetts Division of Insurance, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Board of Appeal on Motor Vehicle Liability Policies and Bonds, Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, Massachusetts Safety Officers League, AAA Southern New England, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Mothers Against Drunk Driving - Massachusetts Office, Students Against Destructive Decisions - Massachusetts Chapter, Berkshire Medical Center, Massachusetts Emergency Nurses Association, Bristol County Sheriff's Office, Caritas Holy Family Medical Center

Click It or Ticket poster

For more information, please contact Caroline Hymoff, Senior Program Manager at the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security's Highway Safety Division.