With the Memorial Day holiday approaching, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Illinois State Police (ISP), and more than 200 law enforcement agencies statewide are participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s high-visibility “Click It or Ticket” campaign. The effort targets seat belt violators and impaired drivers in an attempt to reduce traffic fatalities.
As part of the campaign, law enforcement will increase patrols and focus on ticketing unbelted motorists and arresting drivers impaired by alcohol, drugs, or other substances.
Illinois was a national leader in seat belt legislation, becoming the third state to mandate seat belt use 40 years ago. State law requires all drivers and front-seat passengers aged 8 and older to wear seat belts, while children under 8 must be properly secured in child safety seats.
According to IDOT, Illinois’ seat belt usage rate has seen a dramatic increase—from just 15.2% in 1985 to 92.4% in 2024. Since 1985, seat belts are estimated to have saved 20,823 lives in Illinois.
The “Click It or Ticket” campaign also serves as a kickoff to the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer,” a period between Memorial Day and Labor Day historically marked by an increase in traffic fatalities. Last year’s Memorial Day weekend—from 6 p.m. Friday to 11:59 p.m. Monday—saw 18 crashes that resulted in 19 deaths across the state.
“ISP troopers focus on preventing the leading causes of fatal crashes—speeding, distracted driving, seat belt violations, and impaired driving,” said ISP Division of Patrol Col. Chris Owen. “This Memorial Day, and every day, avoid becoming a statistic—buckle up, slow down, pay attention, and don’t drive impaired.”
More information about the campaign is available at www.buckleupillinois.org. The campaign is administered by IDOT with federal funds and is supported by the multimedia initiative “It’s Not a Game.”
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