EPHRATA - About 82 percent of Washington drivers reportedly wore seat belts in June 2002, when the primary seat belt law went into effect.

Ten years later, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) reports a seat belt use rate of 97.5 percent, marking the seventh consecutive year of more than 95 percent of Washingtonians buckling up.

WTSC officials estimate nearly 1,010 lives were saved over the past decade due to increases in seat belt use. After the adoption of the "Click it or Ticket" seat belt enforcement project, the number of traffic deaths dropped from 658 in 2002 to 455 in 2011, according to preliminary information.

Between May 21 and June 3, motorists in Grant and Adams counties will see law enforcement patrolling city and county roadways in search of unbuckled drivers and passengers.

The Ephrata, Othello, Quincy, Royal City and Warden police departments, the Grant County Sheriff's Office and the Washington State Patrol will participate in these extra patrols, with the support of the Central Basin Traffic Safety Task Force.

"The point is not to write seat belt citations, but to encourage drivers to buckle up," stated WTSC director Darrin T. Grondel. "We estimate that for every traffic death avoided, it's estimated four serious injuries are avoided, and seat belt use can help us achieve that."

The WTSC reports seat belt use decreases the chance of dying in a crash by 60 percent and reduces the risk of head injury by 80 percent.

"Ten years ago we hoped that we could make an impact on the number of traffic fatalities if we could increase seat belt use," stated Dr. Beth Ebel, Director of the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center and University of Washington Associate Professor of Pediatrics. "Now we have one of the highest seat belt use rates in the nation. We have prevented thousands of serious injuries and deaths. Buckling up is the routine."

For additional information about the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, visit www.wtsc.wa.gov.