You see the”Click It or Ticket”banners and announcements urging motorists to make sure their children are put in properly designed safety seats.

The West Virginia University Department of Public Safety is supporting these programs in an effort to promote safety for everyone on campus.

“Safety belts are the single most effective safety device in preventing serious injuries and reducing fatalities in motor vehicle crashes,”said Bobby Roberts, public safety director.”Their use saved more than 12,000 lives in 2001 alone. Also, child safety seats, when used correctly, are extremely effective in preventing injuries and deaths during crashes.”

WVU DPS cited other statistics in supporting the programs:

• In 2001, 5,341 teens were killed in passenger vehicles crashes in America. Two-thirds of those killed were not buckled up.

• From 1975-2001, an estimated 5,085 children under 5 years old were saved by child restraints with 269 lives saved in 2001 alone.

• In the year 2000, safety belts saved about $50 billion in medical care, lost productivity and other injury-related costs; non-use of safety belts cost society $26 billion.

“Clearly, it makes sense to support these programs,”Roberts said.”It is not our desire to simply enforce the laws, but rather to encourage our campus community to be safe and live a full, productive life. We don’t want to notify another family that their loved one is gone.”

For more information on traffic safety programs, contact either WVU DPS Officer Peggy Runyon or Officer Richard McGee at 304-293-3136.