Seat belt use in the state of California has increased to an all-time high of 95.7%, up by more than 1 percentage point over the 94.6% figure recorded in 2007, state officials announced. California’s seat belt usage is one of the highest in the nation. “These numbers show that the overwhelming majority of Californians have gotten the message that seat belts work,” said Dale E. Bonner, Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. “They save lives, prevent injuries and reduce the societal costs of collisions.”

In fact, the state’s seat belt usage has been rising steadily since the Click It or Ticket campaign started in 2005. That year, seat belt usage stood at 90.4%. Since then, an estimated 1.25 million motorist in the state have started buckling up regularly. The Click It or Ticket campaign was launched to increase awareness of the legal and monetary consequences of failing to wear seatbelts. Fines for first time offenders can reach up to $90 while penalties for improperly restraining children under 16 years old can cost four times as much.