Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner and the Picayune Police Department’s patrol officers will be on the look out for seat belt violations.

The department will be taking part in the national “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement mobilization.

This means that they will be cracking down on motorists not wearing a seat belt.

“As we kick off the busy summer driving season it’s important that everyone buckles up every time they go out, day and night, no excuses,” Chief Bryan Dawsey said. “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone not wearing a seat belt.

“Seat belts save thousands of lives every year,” he said, “Far too many motorists are still not buckling up, especially at night, when the risk of a crash is greater.”

Fifty-two percent of the 21,253 passengers killed in vehicle accidents in 2011 were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, according to the U.S. Department of  Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Sixty-two percent of 10,135 passengers killed accidents that occurred during overnight hours were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, according to the NHSTA.

“We want everyone to have a safe summer,” Dawsey said. “That requires an important step on the part of motorists, clicking that seat belt.”

Seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives in 2011, according to the NHTSA.