(MSC News)--The Kansas Department of Transportation is partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to raise awareness of its “Click It or Ticket” campaign during the busy Thanksgiving weekend.

Law enforcement agencies will have an increased presence on roadways to check for speeders, seat belt use, and any suspicion of impaired driving.

KDOT statistics show 319 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in traffic crashes in Kansas in 2021. In that same year, 46.4% of those killed were unrestrained. About 46.6% of front-seat passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2021 were unrestrained and 58.3% of those killed in back seats were unrestrained.

KDOT Behavioral Safety Manager Gary Herman encourages everyone to buckle up and drive defensively when traveling over Thanksgiving weekend.

This Thanksgiving- “Click It or Ticket” surveillance period will be in effect from Wednesday, Nov. 23, to Monday, Nov. 28.