CALOR Teams Up with IDOT to Urge Motorists to Buckle Up

As motorists take to the roadways this Memorial Day holiday, police are urging everyone to buckle up. CALOR, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals affected by HIV/AIDS, is joining with law enforcement agencies statewide to remind everyone that seat belts save lives.

"Our focus is to help people live safely," said Omar N. López, Director, CALOR, a division of Anixter Center. "So it is only natural that we support this campaign.”

"Seat belts are the single most important safety device in a car. They have saved countless lives and prevented countless injuries. I urge all drivers and passengers to buckle up, every trip, every time, every seat, day or night," Lopez added.

Beginning May 10, over 500 Illinois law enforcement agencies will join the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and traffic safety advocates in the 2013 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization, cracking down on motorists who are not belted. Motorists are reminded that everyone in the vehicle must be safely buckled or in an appropriate child restraint. It is the law!

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), research has shown that when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants is reduced by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate to serious injury is reduced by 50 percent.

“Seat belts clearly save lives. But, unfortunately, too many people still need to be reminded. Law enforcement will be out in force, day and night, ticketing those who are not buckled up,” said López.

The Illinois Click It or Ticket campaign is May 10-27. Buckle up and encourage loved ones to do the same. Wearing a seat belt is your best defense against an impaired driver.

For more information about the Click It or Ticket campaign, please visit www.buckleupillinois.org. For more information about CALOR and Anixter Center, visit www.anixter.org.