CHARLESTON, WV — Local law enforcement agencies are partnering with the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) for the statewide Click It or Ticket mobilization from October 9-31, 2026. This high-visibility enforcement effort aims to ensure every driver and passenger on West Virginia roads is buckled up correctly. By increasing seat belt usage, the GHSP continues its mission to save lives across the state.
The October Click It or Ticket mobilization runs in conjunction with the Operation Crash Reduction, a regional campaign aimed at reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities during the Columbus Day weekend (October 9-12, 2026). Historically, it is one of the deadliest holiday weekends for fatal crashes in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Region 3 program area. Region 3 includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Nationally, the statistics underscore the vital importance of seat belt use: 59% of killed passenger vehicle occupants aged 18 to 34 were unbuckled. Gender differences in fatalities are also significant, with unbuckled men dying in crashes more often than women (53% vs. 40%). Vehicle type is a factor as well; pickup truck occupants killed who were unbuckled accounted for 59%, compared to 47% for passenger cars. Furthermore, seat position plays a role: while 47% of front-seat fatalities involved unbelted occupants, that figure rose to 58% for back-seat fatalities.
“We want all drivers and passengers traveling in West Virginia to be safe on the roadways and to always wear their seat belt,” said Gov. Patrick Morrisey.
In 2024, there were a total of 256 fatalities on West Virginia’s roadways. Twenty-seven percent of those fatalities were occupants who were unrestrained. Of the 157 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities, nearly 44 percent were unrestrained.
To help save lives, law enforcement officers across West Virginia will be out in full force, ticketing drivers who are caught traveling without a correctly buckled seat belt or transporting unrestrained children. This statewide seat belt campaign is aimed at enforcing seat belt use to help keep all vehicle occupants safe.
“Seat belt enforcement is one of the most direct ways we can protect drivers and passengers in our community,” said Sgt. Greg Britton of the Vienna Police Department. “Wearing a seat belt is a simple action that dramatically reduces the risk of injury or death in a crash. During this Click It or Ticket campaign, our officers will be actively enforcing seat belt laws to ensure everyone stays safe on the road.”
“Unbuckled drivers or passengers have a higher likelihood of being killed if they are in a crash. At the current statewide seat belt usage rate of nearly 92 percent, we still have some work to do to keep everyone safe on the roadways. The reality is: seat belts save lives. Not buckling up is not worth the risk. Click It. Don’t Risk It,” said Jack McNeely, GHSP Director.
Wearing your seat belt is required by law, but don’t just buckle up to avoid a ticket. The values of our families’ and friends’ lives in West Virginia are incalculable. The $25 violators pay if ticketed pales in comparison to the lives of the people we love most. If you are caught driving while unbuckled and you get a ticket, look at it as your wake-up call. A ticket is far less expensive than paying with your life or the lives of your family and friends.
For more information about the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.