The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the North Charleston Police Department (NCPD) are proud to work with law enforcement across the country to protect road users and help save lives. The Memorial Day holiday weekend is an especially dangerous time on America’s roads, as it is the first long holiday weekend of summer.

To keep our nation’s roads safe during this busy season, South Carolina will be conducting the Click it. Don’t Risk It. high-visibility seat belt enforcement campaign from May 18-May 31, 2026.

Buckle up, South Carolina (BUSC) is a high-visibility enforcement campaign that focuses specifically on the consequences of not wearing a seat belt while urging riders to always buckle up. Our goal is encouraging drivers and passengers to wear seat belts and to spread awareness about the increased police presence on our nation’s roads during this period.

Facts about seat belts and child safety seats:

• On average, every 54 minutes a passenger vehicle occupant not wearing a seat belt dies in a traffic crash.
• In 2024, 9,758 passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes were not wearing seat belts.
• The national estimate of seat belt use during the day by adult front-seat passengers in 2024 was 91.2%.
• In 2024, more unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants died in traffic crashes at night (5,364) than during the day (4,319).
• In 2024, 56% of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6 p.m.–5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts.
• Among young adults 18 to 34 killed while riding in passenger vehicles in 2024, 59% were completely unrestrained — one of the highest percentages for all age groups.
• Men make up the majority of those killed in traffic crashes. Men are also overrepresented in unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities with 53% of men and 40% of women dying without a seat belt in 2024.

Ross Chastain takes safety seriously: 'The safest thing I do every time I drive is buckle up"