Rural areas targets of seat belt crackdown

Associated Press - November 20, 2009 4:15 AM ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Law enforcement officers in Tennessee are targeting rural areas for motorists and passengers not wearing seat belts.

Of the 776 people killed in Tennessee car crashes in 2008, 62 percent were in rural areas. More than half of all traffic fatalities were people not wearing seat belts.

Fifty-two law enforcement agencies in 19 counties are participating in the crackdown: Anderson, Wayne, Franklin, Macon, Clay, Pickett, Overton, Jackson, Smith, DeKalb, White, Fentress, Morgan, Jefferson, Monroe, Bledsoe, Grundy, Marion and Sequatchie.

Authorities said they were chosen because of their apparent low seat belt use.