Last year in Mississippi, more than 700 drivers and passengers were killed in automobile accidents. Nearly 70 percent of those were not properly restrained.

Trying to decrease this number is why the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department always participates in Click It or Ticket. The campaign to encourage buckling your seatbelt will run for two weeks which includes Memorial Day weekend.

"I don't know of anyone that I've ever met that told me that when they got up in the morning and decided that they would have an automobile crash that day," said Chief Deputy Ward Calhoun. "We don't plan for those kind of events in our lives. That's why it's important to have that seatbelt on every time you are in a vehicle."

The Memorial Day weekend, which is the unofficial start of summer, is one of the busiest times for people to travel.

For that reason, Memorial Day, along with the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas and some other holidays are always times when we see attention brought to the Click It or Ticket campaign.

"These are high traffic days, or time periods, when a lot of people are on our roadways," said Calhoun. "We see, usually, an increase in fatalities and serious injury accidents during that time period. So it's a good time to bring it to peoples' attention and remind them that Click It or Ticket really goes on every day."

Calhoun said the campaign is a great opportunity for people to start a new habit. He also hopes parents will take the chance to teach their children about wearing seatbelts. And while they don't always keep you safe, officials say the numbers are in your favor when you buckle up.

"It may not prevent you from being killed in an automobile crash. Quite often I'll have someone say 'well they were wearing their seatbelt.' We know that. What we are trying to do is manage the risk," said Calhoun. "What the operator of the vehicle is trying to do is manage the risk and to decrease the likelihood of being seriously injured or becoming a fatality in a car crash. And wearing a seatbelt will do that for you."