The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, and over 200 law enforcement agencies across the state are joining forces for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's "Click It or Ticket" campaign.

This initiative aims to curb seat belt law violations and impaired driving as the Memorial Day weekend approaches.

"Make sure everyone in your vehicle, whether they’re in the front seat or back seat, is buckled up before hitting the road this Memorial Day weekend," said Stephane B. Seck-Birhame, IDOT’s bureau chief of Safety Programs and Engineering. "Not only is a seat belt your best defense if you’re in a crash, wearing one is the law in Illinois."

Illinois was the third state to mandate seat belt usage 40 years ago, requiring drivers and front-seat passengers aged 8 and older to wear seat belts. Children younger than 8 must be secured in appropriate car seats. According to IDOT, the state's seat belt usage rate was 92.4% in 2024, a significant increase from 15.2% in 1985. Since 1985, seat belts have saved an estimated 20,823 lives in Illinois.

The "Click It or Ticket" campaign precedes the "100 Deadliest Days of Summer," a period historically marked by an increase in fatalities between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Last year, the Memorial Day weekend saw 18 crashes resulting in 19 deaths in Illinois.

"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."