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Sandra Yi ReportingThe next time we get in a car officers want us to think about something; in a car crash, there's one thing that can help save our lives, and how law enforcement is making sure we all do it. We're talking about seatbelts. The signs are everywhere, but not everyone is getting the message.
Adam Stoker: "I've always been the one in my family to buckle up, and when I was younger I was the one that tattled on my sisters for not wearing their seatbelts."
Little did he know his habit would eventually save his life. Last fall an SUV hit his car head-on.
Adam Stoker: "According to the police, the impact of the accident was equivalent to us hitting a stationary object going 90 miles an hour."
He says he and his dad are still alive because of their seat belts.
Adam Stoker: "Had we failed to buckle up, we would have been killed, and my family would have lost a brother and a dad."
Officers want us to think about that. As the summer travel season kicks off, they'll be watching for people who aren't buckled up and ticketing them up to 45 dollars.
Trooper: "Can I ask you how come you're not wearing your seat belt?" Driver: "I forgot to put it on." Trooper: "Forgot to put it on?"
Officers say that's no excuse. They say seatbelts work.
Col. Scott Duncan, Utah Highway Patrol: "That one thing alone is going to save more lives in this state than anything we can do."
Adam Stoker says, take his word for it.
Adam Stoker: "So next time you get in the car, remember to click it, or a ticket will be the least of your concerns."
The good news is people here in Utah use seatbelts more than people in other states. But for officers that's not good enough. They want everyone to buckle up. The national seat belt enforcement campaign runs for the next two weeks.
