Tribune editorial staff

It is amazing how something that takes such little time to do and has proven to save so many lives is often forsaken.

As much data that has been published on how those who do not wear seat belts are at more risk of dying in an automobile crash than motorists who do, you would think it would be a no-brainer to buckle up. A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, however, found that

only 65.3 percent of Ohio motorists complied with the state's seat belt regulations in 2000, compared to a nationwide average of 71 percent.

With this in mind,

some 800 law enforcement agencies throughout the state, including the Ironton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, are adopting zero-tolerance policies for offenders. Starting Monday, Ohio Highway Patrol troopers and other law enforcement officials intend to issue tickets to all motorists who fail to wear their seat belts and fail to properly restrain their child passengers.

The safety mobilization set to run through June 1 is part of a national movement known as "Click It or Ticket." The effort is coordinated by NHTSA

and is being incorporated into Ohio's "What's Holding You Back?" campaign.

Because failing to wear a seat belt is a secondary violation, officers must observe another violation before making a traffic stop. Therefore, many officers issued warnings to drivers and passengers who were not buckled up and citations for the primary violation. During this campaign, officers signed an agreement they will issue citations for all safety belt violations observed during legal traffic stops -- no exceptions.

Of the 1,284 Ohio motorists killed in crashes last year, nearly two-thirds were not wearing seat belts, according to the patrol. While a seat belt may not have prevented all of these deaths, experts say wearing one would have saved many of those lives.

Seat belts work. We know they work, and that's why most of us use them.

We support the law enforcement agencies' zero tolerance, and urge all motorists to buckle up.