Putting on your seatbelt should be the very first thing you do when you get in a car but not everyone remembers to follow this simple rule, so consider this your reminder.

Now through the 29th, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) is running their annual Click it or Ticket campaign. The OHSP's director said in a news release that wearing a seatbelt is the easiest thing everyone can do to minimize injuries and save lives.  All throughout the state, police departments, the sheriff's office, and Michigan State Police will be enforcing the click it or ticket rule.

Overall, Michiganders are very good with wearing their seatbelts with a 94.4% usage rate -- higher than the national average of 90.7%. In 2017, seatbelt usage saved almost 15,000 lives [nationwide] when people were involved in an accident.

Law enforcement will also be out on the roads on Thanksgiving weekend. During the same time last year, four out of the seven deaths that occurred on the road were due to drivers and passengers not being buckled up.

In Michigan, drivers and front-seat passengers must be wearing a seatbelt. Despite where seated those 15 and younger must always be wearing one and kids under 8 (or under 4'9") must be in a car or booster seat. Not following the seatbelt law comes with a $65 fine. You can find more about Michigan's seat belt law here.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this simple act can reduce serious injury or death by 45%. Continue to do your part to save lives, Michigan!

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