The Licking Police Department is joining with statewide law enforcement until the end of the month for a statewide “Click It or Ticket” mobilization to step up enforcement on Missouri’s seat belt law.
More than 5 out of 10 people killed in 2025 Missouri traffic crashes were unbuckled. Even with all the advancements in automobile safety, a seat belt remains a person’s single greatest defense in the event of a crash, officials said.
Missouri’s seat belt use has shown improvement in the last five years, but the state remains just below the national average in usage: Missouri has an 88.5 percent seat belt use while the national average is 91.2 (2024) percent. Teens and pick-up truck drivers are among those least likely to buckle up at 74.0 percent and 75.3 percent, respectively.
“Nearly every day someone dies in a Missouri traffic crash because they weren’t buckled up,” said Chief Pat Burton. “We will be pulling out all the stops to help ensure motorists are making the smart decision to buckle up.”
For information on Missouri seatbelt usage, visit www.saveMOlives.com.
