Safe Communities Coalition launches safety belt campaign

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- An assembly held at Zanesville High School was aimed to leave one strong message fresh in students minds before summer break.

The Muskingum County Safe Communities Coalition hosted an assembly Wednesday afternoon to kickoff their National Click It or Ticket Seat Belt Enforcement Campaign.

“The purpose of our assembly today was to remind kids to wear their seat belt. Two-thirds of the crashes in Muskingum County last year were unbelted, and that was the cause of their fatality, so we want to make sure that we’re preventing those,” said Jessica Emerick, project director for the coalition.

The campaign is a part of a state funded grant given to the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department to help provide education to increase safety belt usage. Genesis Trauma Center, Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office, Zanesville Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol all were in attendance to enforce the message.

“Our kids are our future and it’s extremely important that we do everything that we possibly can do to help them make sure that they get to their future,” said Jim Kilgore, retired Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper.

Statistics show the summer months are the most deadly months of the year for traffic accidents. Those are also the months that teenagers are on the road the most.

“It’s important to always wear your safety belt, watch your speed, do not drink and drive and you’ll have a good chance of surviving the summer,” said Kilgore.

The seat belt law was initiated in 1986 and has saved many lives, however Kilgore said distracted driving has seen a 5% increase over the past year and has created a new danger on the road.