BISMARCK, N.D. (NDDOT) – Crash fatalities in North Dakota continue to trend higher in 2021 than in 2020 with 90 fatalities as of Oct. 23.

Seat belts are the single most effective safety device to prevent death and injury in a motor vehicle crash, yet 54% of the motor vehicle fatalities in 2021 were not wearing one where seat belts were present in the vehicle.

To save lives, law enforcement across the state will have extra patrols from Nov. 1 – Dec. 16 for the Click It or Ticket campaign enforcing the state seat belt law.

Katie Fitzsimmons of Bismarck is sharing how a seat belt saved her life in partnership with Vision Zero in the hopes it encourages others to buckle up, not only for themselves but for others, like first responders.

“It took first responders more than two hours to cut me out of my car,” recalls Fitzsimmons. “My whole windshield was smashed, except for this bubble right around my head and my seat belt kept me in this bubble, which was pretty important. I think about the scene that those first responders would have seen had I not been wearing my seat belt and had I not stayed in that bubble.”

All vehicle occupants should take personal responsibility when traveling and always buckle up. Every trip. Every time.

This campaign is part of the Vision Zero strategy to eliminate motor vehicle crash fatalities and serious injuries on North Dakota roads.

Visit the North Dakota Crash Memorial Wall to view memorials built on the hope of preventing another death on North Dakota roads.