The Governor’s Highway Safety Program today officially launched its Memorial Day "Click It or Ticket" campaign, marking 20 years of seat belt safety awareness efforts that have saved countless lives.

To honor this milestone and show support for the cause, GHSP is asking North Carolinians to get out their cell phone cameras, snap a self-portrait of them buckled up while parked and share it on social media, using the hashtag, "#SafetySelfie."

"As the state that started "Click It or Ticket" two decades ago, we're known for finding unique ways to encourage people to fasten their seat belts," said Don Nail, interim director of GHSP. “The ‘#SafetySelfie’ is just one more example of our innovative approach to changing motorists' behavior for the better. By harnessing the power of social media, we hope to convince the small percentage of people who aren't buckling their seat belts that it's the right thing to do."

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Special Transportation Service (STS) and Bus Operations Division (BOD) received top honors from the North Carolina Public Transportation Association (NCPTA) as safest transit systems in the state.

STS received an award for the safest Urban Dial-A-Ride system in the state for the fifth consecutive year. BOD received its seventh award as the Safest Large Bus System in the State.

Last year CATS operators drove over 15 million miles and handled over 26 million rides, while maintaining a 0.44 preventable accident rate per 100,000 miles.

“We are very committed to safety and these awards are a great indicator that our staff is giving its best to ensure the safety of our customers,” said CATS CEO Carolyn Flowers.

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -- Members of Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Bus Maintenance will compete in its Seventh Annual Bus Maintenance Roadeo on Saturday, March 23, from 8 a.m. to noon. The competition will take place at the CATS South Tryon Bus Facility located at 3145 South Tryon Street.