Salisbury Police patrol officers targeted student drivers and others during the first half of September to help raise the awareness of the importance of always using seat belts to help save lives and reduce injuries in traffic accidents.

"A 'Buckle Up PA - Teen Mobilization' grant allowed our officers to target areas in front of and around Salisbury High School for unbuckled drivers and passengers," Senior Patrol Officer Bryan Losagio said, who is the department's traffic safety coordination officer.

"We also looked for other vehicle code violations, which were enforced.

"About 60 high school drivers exiting the high school were provided with seat belt handouts as they left the school shortly after the new school year began," Losagio said. "We followed up with warning cards by monitoring and enforcing the law. I am happy to say that our Salisbury High School student drivers have a good track record of buckling up, and continued to do so entering this school year.

"I would estimate that about 95 percent of our students had their seat belts buckled while we handed out seat belt safety paperwork. Although 95 percent is a solid number, we want to see 100 percent seat belt use. Seat belts truly save lives, it's not just a saying, but reality."

Losagio said 102 traffic contacts were made during the grant-sponsored enforcement blitz, resulting in two seat belt citations issued for drivers or passengers under 18 years of age who were not buckled up. Three seat belt citations were issued for adults not buckled up. Sixteen speeding citations were issued, Losagio said, and three drivers were issued citations for not having a license. One other moving violation was cited and 24 other non-moving vehicle violation citations were issued.