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FRANKFORT, Ky. – Opening day at the Kentucky Speedway includes a reminder to motorists to drive smart, wear a seat belt and follow the rules of the road. Sponsored by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, The Drive Smart! Buckle Up Kentucky 150 race will be held May 10 at 8 p.m. and marks the beginning of a three-week information and enforcement campaign, known as Click It or Ticket, encouraging seat belt usage across the state.

Despite a wealth of data showing that seat belts save lives – and also despite implementation of a primary seat belt law – Kentucky remains at the bottom nationally in seat belt usage rates, at 67 percent. The annual enforcement campaign, which begins May 19, will attempt to change that as officers buckle down on those not buckled up.

“It’s always a pleasure to partner with the Kentucky Speedway,” KYTC’s Highway Safety Programs Director Boyd Sigler said. “They’ve been a huge supporter in our efforts to increase awareness for our highway safety initiatives.”

Checkpoints will be conducted throughout Kentucky during the mobilization. Those not buckled up will receive a citation. But people who are wearing a seat belt will receive a different kind of ticket – a “Click It FOR Tickets” voucher. Those who are following the rules of the road can register to win one set of twelve tickets to the Kentucky Speedway. Two sets of tickets will be available to the NASCAR Nationwide Series on June 14, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on July 19, and the IndyCar Series on Aug. 9.

Seventy-two percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were involved in a fatal crash in 2006, but who were buckled up, survived. When worn correctly, seat belts are proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants by 45 percent – and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans.

“The majority of those who still don’t use their seat belts are men 18 to 34,” Sigler said. “Many of those people are also race fans. So, this race is a great opportunity for us to reach a very specific audience. But, Click It or Ticket is not about writing tickets. It’s about saving lives.”

Sponsorship of the race includes promotion of the race as the Buckle Up Kentucky 150, signage at the Speedway, ads in the program, and inclusion on race day.