The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced it is joining hundreds of other law enforcement agencies across Florida by intensifying efforts to enforce seat belt laws — among all motorists and around the clock — during the “Click It or Ticket” initiative, which runs through March 16.

According to 2010 data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 2,444 people were killed in motor vehicle related crashes. Of these traffic deaths, 1,450 were either drivers or passengers in safety belt equipped vehicles. Fifty-four percent of those killed were not wearing a safety belt.