Illinois State Police stepping up seat belt enforcement in Will, DuPage and Kane counties

Illinois State Police Troop 3 Cmdr. Capt. Pat Manno said the agency will conduct occupant restraint enforcement patrols in Cook, DuPage, Kane and Will counties during April.

The patrols allow state police to focus on safety belt and child safety seat laws, according to a news release from state police. Illinois law requires all vehicle passengers, front and back, to be buckled up.

The goal of this program is to increase occupant restraint compliance through education, child seat inspections and enforcement, according to the release.

Safety belts still are one of the most effective safety devices in vehicles, estimated to save almost 14,000 lives each year, according to the release.

Half of vehicle occupants killed in a traffic crash were not properly buckled up, state police said.