COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be one of those teaming up for a multi-state campaign to encourage seat belt use as the summer driving season gets unofficially underway with the Memorial Day weekend.
Ohio will join forces with members of the 6-State Trooper Project to focus on safety belt enforcement through May 25.
The high-visibility enforcement effort will also include the Indiana State Police, Kentucky State Police, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police and the West Virginia State Police.
Of the 745 total traffic deaths In Ohio last year, 450 people died while not wearing a seatbelt, superintendent Col. Paul Pride said.
In the last five years, Pride says, 61 percent of traffic fatalities in Ohio were unbelted.