The facts about young drivers and safety belt use aren’t pretty. In 2001, 5,341 teens ages 16-20 died, and thousands more were injured in traffic crashes. More than half of all teens who died in crashes were completely unbelted, and belt use for teens and young adults age 16-24 — at 69 percent — continues to lag behind the rest of the population.

So, how do we get young people to buckle up when they think they are invincible? It’s simple: surround them with the strong message "Click it or ticket; if you won’t buckle up to save your life, then buckle up to save yourself a ticket" — and back it up with a strong enforcement push.

The two-week enforcement wave which runs through the Memorial Day holiday, will be supported by more than $20 million in state and national advertising. It is based on a proven public health model to increase belt use, called "high visibility enforcement."

That’s exactly what’s going to happen this Memorial Day as the "Click It or Ticket Mobilization" delivers the message to teens through television and radio ads, Internet chat rooms, and public high school address systems, in addition to enforcement in locations where young people congregate, such as schools and shopping malls.

The West Long Branch Police Department, in cooperation with the Monmouth University Police Department, will be conducting seat belt check points and "saturation patrols" in the Borough of West Long Branch.

By buckling up their seat belts, teens could save more than just money from hefty fines, they could save their lives.

Patrolman Archie C. Symonds

West Long Branch

Police Department

Traffic Safety Bureau