ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - One simple move could make the difference between life and death if you ever get into a car crash. That move is putting on your seatbelt.
The Allen County Safe Community Coalition kicked off the nationwide "Click It or Ticket" campaign Thursday morning. Whether you are driving across town or across the nation, making sure that you and your passengers' seatbelts are fastened is key before you put your vehicle in drive.
Law enforcement and first responders have seen too many crashes that have gone from bad to worse just because people were not buckled up.
"I certainly can't say that somebody that is involved in a crash isn't going to have some type of injury. But our experience shows that those injuries are much more minimal than somebody that leaves the passenger compartment. If you are ejected through the window, your risk of head injuries and chest injuries are so much greater versus a less serious injury by staying in the vehicle," says Chief Joseph Kitchen, Bath Fire Department.
While seatbelts can help protect you in the car, they can also protect your wallet if you ever get pulled over.
"It can cost you around $140 for the first offense and then the second offense and further it can increase further. It can affect your insurance costs. The important message is to wear your seatbelt at all times from a financial standpoint, but more importantly, it's the safety—safety for yourself as well as your passengers," says Trooper Travis Ricker, Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Besides using seatbelts, the coalition also wants to remind parents about having properly installed child seats and having the appropriate booster seats for their kids, so seatbelts help protect them properly.
