The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office will be joining with statewide law enforcement May 18–31 for an aggressive “Click It or Ticket” mobilization to crack down on Missouri’s seat belt violations.

     Six out of 10 people killed in Missouri traffic crashes are unbuckled. Even with all the advancements in automobile safety and education on the importance of seat belt use, Missouri’s seat belt use has remained relatively unchanged in the last six years and consistently below the national average.

     Missouri has a 79 percent seat belt use, which is well below the national average of 87 percent. Teens and pick-up truck drivers are among those least likely to buckle up at 67 and 63 percent, respectively

     “Every day someone dies in a crash in Missouri because they weren’t buckled up,” said Sheriff Scott Keeler. “We will be pulling out all the stops to ensure motorists are buckling up.”

     Seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. Buckle Up and Arrive Alive. For information on Missouri seatbelt usage, visit www.saveMOlives.com.