U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta said DOT plans to launch two safety initiatives this summer travel season: the “click it or ticket” safety-belt-use campaign and an impaired driving enforcement crackdown.

Reducing the nearly 43,000 annual traffic fatalities remains chief among the DOT’s goals, said Mineta, who spoke to a tourism committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The "click it or ticket" campaign will coincide with the Memorial Day holiday and last from May 24 to June 6, while the impaired driving crackdown will bookend Labor Day, lasting from Aug. 27-Sept. 12.

Mineta says he views travel and tourism as "one of the essential fibers of America" because of its economic significance at the national and local levels. He said nine out of 10 tourists use cars, 7 percent of tourists travel by air and that 2 percent use trains and buses. A family travels an average of 248 miles from their home to reach their destination.

Mineta also gave travel and tourism leaders an update on the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, noting that the House and Senate still have to agree on conference committee designees to reconcile the differing bills for the president's signature.