AUTO SAFETY 'Click and win' campaign promotes seat-belt use

Being properly buckled up could yield tickets to Valley sporting events.
STRUTHERS -- Click it or ticket, and click it and win.
That's the focus of a new program that encourages drivers and front-seat passengers to buckle up.
For the third consecutive year, the Struthers Police Department is teaming up with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and other local law-enforcement agencies in adopting a zero-tolerance policy when dealing with drivers who violate Ohio's seat-belt law.
The Click It or Ticket campaign, which encourages drivers and front-seat passengers to buckle up, runs through June 6.
Until then, all unbuckled drivers stopped for minor traffic violations will receive tickets for the seat-belt violation rather than warnings, as is often the case, explained Ed Villone, a captain in the Struthers police department.
Reward program
This year's campaign also will reward drivers in compliance with the law.
During the campaign, drivers stopped for minor traffic violations who are buckled up will become eligible for a drawing for tickets to a variety of events, including Mahoning Valley Scrappers games and the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, which begins July 12, Villone said.
About 74 percent of drivers in Ohio routinely buckle up, compared to 60 percent in Mahoning County, Police Chief Robert Norris said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said increasing the use of seat belts in Ohio by 5 percent would prevent 40 traffic-crash deaths a year, prevent 1,674 injuries and save an estimated $91 million.
Area businesses donated tickets to be awarded.
Coitsville Police Department's zero-tolerance campaign for violators of Ohio's seat-belt law ran from 9 p.m. Friday through 2 a.m. today.