The Lemont Police Department will increase traffic safety enforcement Friday in an effort to promote seat belt usage throughout Illinois.

"Click it or Ticket" is a statewide effort by local law enforcement agencies and the Illinois Department of Transportation's (IDOT) Division of Traffic Safety that encourages the use of seat belts in motor vehicles. The campaign's message is "Buckle Up Illinois ... No Excuses!"

From Friday, Nov. 19, to Sunday, Nov. 28, Lemont police will set up "seat belt enforcement zones" throughout the village. Seat belt violators will receive tickets without any warnings.

According to IDOT, Illinois has a 92.6-percent daytime safety belt usage rate. However, statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that on any given day about 38 passenger vehicle occupants are killed in crashes where they were not wearing seat belts.

During the Thanksgiving holiday period last year, 12 people died in motor vehicle accidents and more than 800 were injured.

According to NHTSA, "regular safety belt use is the single more effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes."

For more information on Lemont's "Click It or Ticket" campaign, contact Lemont Police Sgt. Joseph Miller at 630-257-2229.