It only takes a few seconds to buckle a seat belt before leaving for a drive.

It also takes only a few seconds to get into a car accident.

But the first few seconds taken buckling your seat belt in the first place could save your life.

The Nye County Sheriff's Office will join forces with state law enforcement agencies from Monday, May 19, to Sunday, June 1, in aggressively enforcing seat belt compliance as part the national "Click it or Ticket" campaign.

The emphasis this year is ensuring motorists buckle up day and night.

A quick run-through of the numbers proves the conventional wisdom that seat belts save lives.

In 2006, 15,000 passenger vehicle occupants died in traffic accidents between 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Over half of the motorists killed -- 64 percent -- were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.

On the other hand, 72 percent of motorists involved in crashes in which at least one person died that same year, but who were buckled up at the time of the crash, survived.

Failing to buckle up can cost you more than a traffic ticket -- it can cost you your life. For more information about the enforcement campaign, visit www.nhtsa.gov.