As Thanksgiving approaches, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and law enforcement agencies across the state are urging motorists to wear seat belts as they travel for the holiday. The annual Click It or Ticket campaign will take place from November 27 through December 5, 2025, with increased enforcement and public education efforts focused on seat belt use.
The campaign aims to boost seat belt compliance and reduce fatalities during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. In 2023, 71 people in Connecticut died in crashes while not wearing seat belts. National data shows that during Thanksgiving weekend in 2023, nearly half of those killed in nighttime accidents and over a third of those killed in daytime crashes were unrestrained.
“When the unexpected happens, that simple click of a seat belt can be the difference between tragedy and survival,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, which is why it’s critical – before you put your car into drive – everyone in your vehicle is buckled up.”
Drivers should expect more police presence on roads throughout the state during this period. Officers will stop vehicles if occupants are not wearing seat belts and issue citations as part of efforts to improve safety.
“When you get behind the wheel, buckling up should be as automatic as starting the engine. Our troopers are out in force because we know one simple action can mean the difference between walking away from a collision and not surviving at all,” said Connecticut State Police Commanding Officer Colonel Daniel Loughman. “This Click It or Ticket campaign isn’t about punishment: it’s about readiness, responsibility, and respecting the lives in your vehicle. Buckle up every trip, every time.”
“Buckling seat belts for all passengers in a motor vehicle is the simplest and most effective way to prevent serious injuries in a crash, and it’s also the easiest way to avoid a ticket,” said Watertown Police Chief and Chairman of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association Traffic Safety Committee Josh Bernegger.
State law requires all drivers and passengers—both front- and back-seat—to wear seat belts. First-time offenders may receive fines starting at $92.
For additional information about seat belt safety, visit nhtsa.gov
