Tania Dall / Eyewitness News
Email: tdall@wwltv.com | Twitter: @taniadall
METAIRIE, La. -- It only takes a few seconds to buckle your seat belt, and Saturday teams were put to the test in Metairie.
The event is part of a major seat belt enforcement campaign that's underway this holiday weekend.
After the honk of a horn, groups of four competed to see which team could buckle up their seat belts the fastest in four different seats.
The Rock the Belt event, hosted by the New Orleans Zephyrs and Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, is part of a campaign to get you to use your seat belt.
State law requires drivers and all passengers to wear their seat belts. But many people break the law. The state's seat belt usage rate is 78 percent, which is below the national average of 84 percent.
"Statisticians tell us for every percentage point that we can increase that rate eight lives could be saved in Louisiana,” said Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director John Leblanc. “So it’s important to get that rate up."
During Memorial Day weekend last year, Louisiana State Police say there were 10 deadly car crashes across Louisiana, and in six of those cases, the victims weren't wearing their seat belts.
"You can have the nicest, newest vehicle with all the crumple zones and airbags, but the first thing you need to do is put that seat belt on, because it’s your first line of defense and that's what’s going to keep you and your family safe,” said Trooper Evan Harrell of Troop C.
You've been warned: 127 law enforcement agencies from across the state are cracking down on those who don't buckle up.
The “Click-it or Ticket-it" campaign runs now through June 3.
