As Memorial Day weekend approaches and the unofficial start to summer begins, more motorists are taking to the roadways - and local law enforcement are urging everyone to buckle up.
Starting Monday, law enforcement will be stepping up their "Click it or Ticket" campaign, also known locally as "Buckle Up New York." New York is among 24 states participating in a border-to-border enforcement campaign cracking down on motorists who are not belted, including checkpoints.
During last year’s campaign, State Police and local law enforcement issued more than 28,000 adult and child safety restraint violations.
The National Safety Council estimates wearing a seat belt will save nearly 160 lives this Memorial Day weekend.
Still, the council estimates more than 400 people will be killed on the roads during the upcoming holiday. That is its highest estimate for the time period since 2012.
The council also estimates 47,000 people may be seriously injured - those who require medical attention - on the roads during the three-day holiday.
The estimates are in step with a nationwide upward trend in vehicle deaths. Preliminary numbers indicate traffic deaths increased 6 percent in 2016 and 14 percent since 2014 – the steepest two-year jump since 1964.