The 2018 November "Click It or Ticket" mobilization will be held November 19-30, 2018.

Thanksgiving holds a special place in the heart of Americans nationwide. Each year, we take the holiday weekend to visit with friends and families, sometimes traveling great distances for that long-awaited turkey dinner. Unfortunately, this increased traffic means an increased likelihood of traffic crashes. Tragically, many vehicle passengers will travel the roads without ever buckling their seat belts, drastically increasing the likelihood of injury or death if they are involved in a crash.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, during the 2016 Thanksgiving weekend (6 p.m. Wednesday, November 23, to 5:59 a.m. Monday, November 28), 341 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes nationwide. Tragically, 49 percent of those killed were not buckled up, representing an increase in seat belt use compared to the same weekend in 2015, when 52 percent of those killed in traffic crashes were unrestrained. Nighttime proved even more deadly, with 55 percent of Thanksgiving weekend crashes occurring at night. Much like drunk driving, these deaths represent needless tragedies for families across America. These deaths could have been completely prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.

Wearing your seat belt can mean the difference between life and death in a vehicle crash. In fact, proper seat belt use is the single most effective way to save your life in the event of a crash.

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/click-it-or-ticket.

Virginia law enforcement and the DMV's, Virginia Highway Safety Office is supporting this effort.