The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is intensifying efforts to promote road safety in Texarkana through its annual Click It or Ticket campaign. This initiative, which runs until the end of May, seeks to reduce the number of fatalities resulting from not wearing seat belts. In 2025 alone, 965 individuals lost their lives on Texas roads due to not buckling up.
Local Leadership Speaks Out
At a recent event held at the downtown federal building in Texarkana, Heather Deaton, public information officer for TxDOT’s Atlanta District, highlighted the campaign’s importance. She noted that since Texas joined the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s seat belt enforcement program 24 years ago, seat belts have saved over 8,600 lives in traffic accidents.
The event featured several local leaders, including Chief Kevin Schutte of the Texarkana Texas Police Department, Fire Marshal Chuck Weerts of the Texarkana Texas Fire Department, and Assistant Chief Jeff Boyd of the Marshall Police Department. A striking display of a red Toyota Celica suspended in oversized seat belts underscored the effectiveness of seat restraints.
Enforcement and Education
Texas law mandates that all drivers and passengers must wear seat belts, with violations resulting in fines and court costs of up to $200. Chief Schutte emphasized, “If there are kids in your car who are not buckled up correctly, you will get a citation.” Children under 8 years old must be in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they are taller than 4 feet, 9 inches, with fines reaching up to $250 plus court costs for non-compliance.
According to Deaton, 90% of Texans regularly use seat belts, but stricter enforcement could increase this number. Assistant Chief Boyd remarked, “Sometimes, tickets and fines are what it takes to drive change.”
Personal Stories and Broader Impact
Justin Woodson, community health coordinator for LifeNet, shared a poignant personal story from his early days as a paramedic, where he responded to a tragic accident involving a mother and two teenagers who were not wearing seat belts. “That call still haunts me,” Woodson admitted, underscoring the life-saving potential of seat belts.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that most fatal crashes occur within 25 miles of home and at speeds below 40 mph. Seat belts help distribute crash forces and prevent serious injuries. Since 2002, the Click It or Ticket campaign has prevented 157,000 serious injuries and saved $35 billion in economic costs, according to TxDOT.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
