The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding motorists and passengers to wear a safety belt every trip, pointing to thousands of deaths involving unbelted occupants in recent years.

According to Patrol statistics, 2,741 people who were not wearing an available safety belt have been killed in Ohio crashes since 2021.

The Patrol says the problem is especially pronounced among younger adults.

Among occupants ages 21 through 40 who were killed in crashes during that period, 72% were not wearing an available safety belt.

Ohio law requires all front-seat occupants of passenger vehicles to wear a safety belt. Passengers under age 15 are also required to be buckled up regardless of where they are seated in the vehicle.

Ohio’s safety belt law remains a secondary violation, meaning motorists generally must first be stopped for another traffic violation before they can be cited for not wearing a seat belt.

However, the Patrol says troopers will enforce the law when motorists stopped for other violations are found not to be buckled up.

Since 2021, troopers have issued more than 332,000 safety belt and child safety seat citations.

Patrol Superintendent Colonel Charles A. Jones said troopers regularly see the consequences of motorists not wearing seat belts and emphasized that buckling up can reduce the risk of serious injury or death in a crash.

The Patrol says safety belt enforcement will remain part of its regular traffic patrol efforts across Ohio.

Motorists can also safely call #677 to report impaired drivers, suspected drug activity or stranded motorists