Evergreen Reporter

Texas teenagers are being urged to buckle up in every seat and on every ride as part of the Teen Click It or Ticket campaign launched by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This initiative comes in response to an increase in teen fatalities where a significant number were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

In 2023, Texas recorded 296 teen deaths from traffic accidents, with 49% of those victims not using seat belts. TxDOT Executive Director Marc D. Williams emphasized the importance of this safety measure: "These fatalities serve as a sobering wake-up call," he said. "Every time someone gets in a car and skips buckling up, they’re taking a deadly gamble."

The campaign is scheduled to travel across Texas from January 30 to February 15, visiting educational institutions in areas with low percentages of teen seat belt use. The tour includes stops at El Paso Community College, San Antonio's Palo Alto Community College, Austin's Glenn High School, Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Hudson High School in Lufkin, and Houston Community College-Felix Fraga Academic Campus.

A trailer featuring wreckage from a truck crash will be part of the tour. This display highlights an incident where two teenagers survived with minor injuries because they wore seat belts. Additionally, there will be vehicles equipped with screens showing safety information.

Beyond promoting safety, buckling up is also a legal requirement in Texas. Unbuckled drivers and passengers can face fines and fees reaching $200.

The campaign encourages parents, schools, and communities to instill the habit of wearing seat belts among teens. It also serves as a reminder that adults should model this behavior since teens are more likely to follow suit when they see adults doing so.

Teen Click It or Ticket forms part of #EndTheStreakTX—a broader effort aimed at ending daily road fatalities through safer driving choices. The last day without a road death in Texas was November 7, 2000.

For further information or media inquiries about this campaign, contact TxDOT Media Relations via email at MediaRelations@TxDOT.gov or by phone at 512-463-8700.