York Police Department joins in Make It Click National Mobilization

The York Police Department will have extra officers on the road from Nov. 23 through Dec. 1 as part of the Make It Click National Mobilization.

Officers will emphasize seat-belt use to raise awareness of when seat belts are required in Nebraska.

According to the Nebraska Department of Transportation, the driver, each front-seat passenger and all children 6 to 18 years old must wear occupant protection systems, and all of those systems must be properly adjusted and fastened.

The York Police Department will partner with the Nebraska Department of Transportation in the effort.

Police Chief Ed Tjaden said traffic safety has a big impact on quality of life in a community such as York. Participating in projects like the Make It Click National Mobilization is a proactive way to improve that quality of life.

While the Make It Click name is new, the concept is probably familiar to many drivers.

"This time of year, they've usually had Click It or Ticket," Tjaden said. The York police frequently participated in that event, and Tjaden plans to join in more such efforts in the future.

Make It Click is about saving lives, and the numbers tell the story.

In 2021, more than one person on average died per hour in Nebraska (11,813 total people) while not wearing seat belts in passenger vehicle crashes. More people die unrestrained in passenger vehicle crashes at night in the state (6,491) than during the day (5,205). In addition, a higher percentage of fatalities that occur at night are unrestrained (57%) than during the day (43%).

York officers' pay for the extra enforcement will be reimbursed by the Nebraska Department of Transportation through a project mini-grant. Tjaden said NDOT makes it easy for local departments to participate.

"They deserve a shoutout," he said. "It's a one-page deal."

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