CASPER, Wyo. — Memorial Day weekend travelers are advised that law enforcement will be stepping up seatbelt enforcement in the midst of the national Click It or Ticket campaign.
The annual high-visibility enforcement effort runs from May 20 to June 2, according to a release by the Wyoming Highway Patrol.
“We need seat belt use to be automatic every time a driver and passenger get into a vehicle,” said Colonel Tim Cameron of the Wyoming Highway Patrol. “It’s not just the safe thing to do, it’s the law.”
In 2023, nearly 54% of vehicle occupant fatalities in Wyoming were not using a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The national seatbelt use rate in 2023 was 91.9%, but Wyoming lags behind at 81.9%, the release said.
“We can do better,” the WHP said. “Buckling up is the simplest thing you can do to limit injury or save your life during a crash. We see the results of not wearing a seat belt all the time. We see the loss of life. So often, it could have been prevented.”
