“Click It or Ticket” increasingly important as Rapid City sees increase in vehicle accidents

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City has seen an increase in vehicle accidents, and often fatalities are related to accidents involving individuals not buckled up.

Easy to forget until it’s too late…a seat belt. More than 70% of those killed in vehicle accidents are unrestrained. Despite being South Dakota law, the state is well-behind the national seat belt usage rate of 88%. So, the Rapid City Police Department is encouraging people to take their safety seriously.

“We would really appreciate it, and we look forward to everybody taking part of making sure that our community is safe, making sure that they themselves are safe, by wearing their seatbelt, and for those bikers to wear those helmets and wear eye protection and their riding gear,” said Patrol Officer Carlee Oliver. “Unfortunately, accidents have increased. So it’s very important that everybody does their part to keep our city safe.”

Oliver says that officers will make contact with individuals not properly restrained, and that may lead to a ticket. That does include children. Children under 85 pounds are to be placed in car seats, and those under 100 pounds should sit in booster seats.