This week, law enforcement will be stepping up their enforcement of seat belt violations.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 341 people killed in traffic accidents during the 2014 Thanksgiving holiday. Half of those fatalities were from those who didn’t wear their seat belts. Additionally, five Iowans were killed last year during the Thanksgiving holiday.

The NHTSA reports that you can reduce your risk of a fatal injury by 45 percent if you wear a seat belt. Their study also found that males were more likely to not wear a seatbelt at 53 percent compared to females at 40 percent. Fifty-nine percent of the fatalities reported in 2014 nationwide were individuals between the ages of 13 to 15 and 25 to 34 years-old.

Jefferson Police Department and the Greene County Sheriff’s office are participating the the current special Traffic Enforcement Program this week.

They remind everyone that it’s against the law to not wear your seatbelt.