Mo. police to check teen seat belt use

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) -- Police in St. Louis County and throughout Missouri plan to crack down on teen drivers who don't wear seat belts.

"Operation Safe Teen" is aimed at getting the attention of seat belt law violators and reducing highway fatalities.

The campaign began Wednesday and runs through March 31.

Missouri law requires young drivers to wear seat belts, but only about 60 percent of them do. One in four Missouri traffic crashes involves a young driver.

Police say 304 Missourians ages 15 to 19 died in traffic crashes from 2007 through last year. Of those killed, 72 percent were unbuckled.

Police say regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.