Pennsylvania bolsters traffic safety guidance

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Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) personnel are encouraging motorists to adhere to traffic safety guidance amid counties advancing to the yellow phase of reopening.

“While social distancing is still encouraged, when you do travel, please drive safely,” Acting PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “We urge all Pennsylvanians to always wear their seat belts, adhere to speed limits, and never drive impaired or distracted.”

State law requires all occupants younger than 18 to wear a seat belt when riding in a vehicle, as well as every driver and front-seat passenger – while children under the age of two must be secured in a rear-facing car seat and those under the age of four must be restrained in an approved child safety seat.

The entities joined with municipal police departments and other state and local safety organizations to execute the Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement and education initiative through June 14, 2020, noting national enforcement effort has been postponed to November 2020 due to COVID-19 mitigation.

“Even though we are all traveling less often, we still have the responsibility to do our part to keep Pennsylvania’s roads safe,” Maj. Bruce Williams, director of the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Patrol, said. “The first step toward safer roads is a commitment to wearing a seatbelt and zero tolerance for impaired or distracted driving.”