Hastings Police Department sees increased seatbelt usage during 'Make it Click' campaign

HASTINGS, Neb. – The Hastings Police Department is releasing results from their involvement in a recent statewide seatbelt enforcement campaign.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation's 'Make it Click' campaign began on May 12 and concluded on June 1. 

The campaign gave grant funding to local law enforcement departments to allow officers to work overtime and subsequently conduct traffic violation and seatbelt enforcement stops.

According to a news release from HPD, a pre-event survey indicated 72% of Hastings drivers were using seatbelts. 

A post-event survey conducted in the same fashion as the pre-event survey saw an increase to 80% of drivers using seatbelts. 

During the campaign, 165 hours of overtime were worked by HPD officers which led to an additional 204 traffic stops being made outside of those overtime hours. 

The news release says 29 seatbelt violations were issued during the 21-day campaign.  

Additional traffic stops during the timeframe included four drug related violations, four driving under suspension violations, three DUI violations, three reckless driving violations, two weapons violations, three open alcohol container violations, and 39 speeding violations.

Statewide, troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol issued 122 citations for seat belt and child safety seat violations.