Annual Seat Belt Education and Enforcement Campaign: NASCAR's Chastain and GTSC Rally for Road Safety

"Buckle Up New York, Click it or Ticket" Campaign Runs May 22 - June 4

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) and NASCAR star Ross Chastain have once again united to promote the importance of seat belt usage to teens in Monroe County. This collaboration is part of the annual statewide “Buckle Up New York, Click it or Ticket” education and enforcement campaign, which takes place from May 22 until June 4.

GTSC and Ross Chastain Encourage Seat Belt Usage

Chastain partnered with GTSC at Benjamin Franklin High School in Rochester and Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES in Spencerport. The purpose of the collaboration is to demonstrate to teens the ease of buckling up and the severe consequences of crashes when drivers and passengers neglect to wear seat belts.

“It only takes a couple of seconds to fasten your seat belt and minimize the risk to yourself and others if your vehicle winds up in a crash,” said Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder. “We are happy to have Ross Chastain back again to educate New York’s teens and younger drivers about buckling up whether they are behind the wheel or in the back seat. It’s the law and it can make all the difference.”

Chastain Promotes "Protect Your Melon" Initiative

Chastain, an eighth-generation watermelon farmer when he's not competing on the NASCAR circuit, prominently displays New York’s “Protect Your Melon” logo on his uniform and his #91 Buckle Up NY Chevy. In further support of the initiative, over 1.5 million watermelons labeled with “Protect Your Melon” and a “Buckle Up!” hashtags will be sold in grocery stores across the state throughout the spring and summer.

New York Leads in Seat Belt Safety

New York has consistently been a national leader in seat belt safety. The state was the first to pass legislation in 1984 requiring drivers and front-seat passengers to use seat belts. In 2020, these laws were further tightened with the inclusion of back-seat passengers. Data from the University at Albany’s Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research (ITSMR) indicates that seat belt compliance in New York consistently remains at or above 90 percent each year.

Enforcement and Awareness Remain Key

New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli stated that safety restraints are not optional in New York, adding that law enforcement will be actively seeking those not using seatbelts during this campaign. His sentiments were echoed by Chief Kevin P. Sylvester of the Ossining Police Department and Albany County Sheriff Craig D. Apple Sr.

The GTSC's Child Passenger Safety Program, which trains law enforcement and community safety partners on proper installation of child safety restraints, is an ongoing part of the GTSC's commitment to road safety. Parents and caregivers can find further information on this initiative at trafficsafety.ny.gov.

For more information on occupant protection, please visit the GTSC’s website or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.