Police departments across the state are planning to increase the enforcement of wearing seatbelts from May 22 to June 4 in conjunction with the Texas Department of Transportation’s annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign. Since the campaign launched 15 years ago, about 5,000 lives have been saved and 86,000 serious injuries have been prevented, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Measures to urge Texans to wear seatbelts have also saved the state more than $19 billion. “Wearing a seat belt is the single most important step you can take to protect yourself in a crash, and in Texas it’s the law,” TxDOT Executive Director James Bass said in a statement. “People make a lot of excuses for not buckling up, but those excuses will not save your life or prevent you from getting a ticket. The fact is, it only takes a few seconds to buckle up and it could mean the difference between life and death.” When the campaign launched, only 76 percent of Texans used their seatbelts. Since, that number has increased to 92 percent during the day and 84 percent at night. Deaths of those not wearing seatbelts increased by 9 percent last year. In case of a crash, wearing a seatbelt increases survival chances by 45 percent in a car and 60 percent in a truck, according to TxDOT. Texas law requires drivers and passengers to buckle up or deal with fines of up to $200. Additionally, drivers with children under the age of 8 not sitting in a child safety seat could face fines of $250. To learn more, visit www.texasclickitorticket.com.