Starting in the middle of May, West Virginia towns all across the state began enforcing strict "Click It or Ticket" campaigns to crack down on drivers and passengers who don't wear seat belts. In Beckley, for instance, police began their campaign on May 17, 2010 and it will last through the end of the month. Local law enforcement will be setting up checkpoints and watching vehicles vigilantly to ensure that drivers, passengers and children are all buckled in properly.

Statewide, police hope to help save lives this Memorial Day weekend. According to Sgt. Paul Blume of the Beckley Police Department, "About 15,000 lives are saved each year by simply wearing seat belts." In addition, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns that air bags are not enough to save you, and that without a seat belt, you can actually be harmed more severely by being thrown into a deployed air bag.

In addition to your own driving safety, wearing a seat belt can also help you safeguard against drunk drivers who may be traveling the roadways over the holiday weekend. AAA estimates that approximately 32.1 million people will take trips over the Memorial Day holiday. Many of those people will be driving on the roadways and others will be traveling on buses, boats, trains and other modes of transportation.

The Click It or Ticket campaign is an annual event around holiday time. The program has helped increase seat belt usage from 48 to 90 percent in West Virginia.

A seat belt can truly save your life you're involved in an auto accident, so wear one every time you get in a car. If you are involved in an accident, be sure to contact a West Virginia personal injury lawyer right away to ensure your rights.