New York law enforcement agencies to participate in latest seat-belt crackdown through end of May

ALBANY, NY- Law enforcement agencies statewide are now participating in the latest “Buckle Up New York, Click It or Ticket” campaign.

This enforcement blitz began on Monday and runs through May 31.

According to New York’s DMV office, the effort will involve increased, high visibility enforcement efforts focusing on vehicle occupants who are not wearing seat belts or wearing their seat belt incorrectly.

Officers will also be looking out for vehicles where children are not properly restrained during the campaign.

Overall, it appears that New Yorkers are in good graces with buckling their seatbelts, as the DMV cites a 92% compliance rate overall.

However, officials say there is still room for improvement. The Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (ITSMR) data from 2024 reveals that 35% of fatal crashes involved un-buckled occupants.

With that said, the same data shows a 3% decrease from 2023, when 38% of fatal crashes involved an occupant who was not buckled.

The DMV claims that nearly half of backseat passenger fatalities occurred when those passengers were un-buckled.

Since November 2020, the law has required all passengers in a vehicle to wear seat belts. Initial results show promise, with rear-seat compliance rising from 88% to 92%.

NYSP image.