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The Buckle Up South Carolina campaign launched this week has been designed not only to save lives, but make several lucky lives more enjoyable.

During the current safety awareness push, licensed drivers can take the pledge to wear safety belts and register to win a sport bass boat or another prize.

Several prizes have been donated to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, including a Scout Sportfisher 175, a $19,000 offshore and inshore, 17-foot fishing boat.

"We are fortunate to have the support of private donors who care about making South Carolina a safer place to live and drive," said S.C. DPS Director B. Boykin Rose. "We are trying something a little different, hoping that if we get people to buckle up to win, then they just might develop a habit that will save their lives."

The South Carolina campaign started May 19 and will run through June 1. Law enforcement officers will focus on enforcement zones or stretches of highway that are shown to have the highest number of fatal collisions.

The primary causes of accidents on the state's highways include failure to yield the right of way, speeding, drinking and driving, and disregarding traffic control devices.

South Carolina Highway patrolman will join law enforcement officers across the nation in focusing on teens and young drivers.

In this state, the public education emphasis will be on South Carolina males ages 16-24.

Troop 7 South Carolina Highway Patrol spokesman Lance Cpl. Dwight Green said that in a recent national seat belt survey, the lowest belt use was among young adults and use generally increased with age among people 16 and over.

"Statistics have shown that young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 are the least likely to use seat belts," Green said. "Our goal is to raise seat belt usage from 66 percent to 78 percent."

The sport boat was on display at the Orangeburg Wal-Mart Tuesday. Interested persons can take the pledge to buckle up at participating Wal-Mart stores and register to win one of the prizes.

In addition to the sport boat, other prizes include two Americana grills donated by Ducane and two annual state park passes donated by Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

Registration for the drawings began May 12 and ends June 15. Ten finalists will be chosen and invited to Columbia on June 20 for the drawings.

Last year, of the 1,053 people killed in South Carolina, 62 percent of were not buckled up, Green said. Every hour, at least one person dies in this country because he or she didn't buckle up.

Failure to use a seat belt contributes to more fatalities than any other single traffic safety-related behavior, Green said.

"Memorial Day weekend is the typical kick-off for summer," Green said. "We're wanting to attempt something light-hearted and fun. We have generous sponsors that are willing to step up and show that they care about the quality of life in our state."

For a list of enforcement zones, contest information or registration or safety belt information, log onto http://www.buckleupsc.com

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5516.

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