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Avoid a Ticket, Save a Life--Wear Your Seatbelt!

    WARWICK, R.I.--Nov. 25, 2002--During the week of November 25, law enforcement officers from across the country will be participating in Click It or Ticket, a program designed to enforce seatbelt usage by mobilizing police to issue tickets to unbelted motorists and passengers. The reason is clear--in 2001, 60 percent of the vehicle occupants who died in auto crashes were unbelted. "Buckling up only takes five seconds," said Bob Smith, vice president and chief claim officer of MetLife Auto & Home. "It can prevent you from getting a ticket, and could just save your life or the life of a loved one."
    According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, using a seatbelt is credited with saving 9,500 lives in America each year. "There is a clear, proven link between seatbelt usage and the likelihood that you will walk away from a motor vehicle crash," said Smith. "This is why programs like Click It or Ticket are so important, and why all of us should practice seatbelt safety before we turn on the ignition."

    These are some simple steps to improve the chances that you and your loved ones will walk away from a potentially fatal accident:

-- Always buckle up, even if you're just traveling a short distance. Seventy-five percent of motor vehicle accidents occur within 25 miles of home.
-- Wear the shoulder belt properly over your chest and shoulder. You're not completely protected if your shoulder belt is worn behind your back or under your arm.
-- Use child safety seats and/or safety belts every time. Police departments can help to install safety seats.
-- Children ages 12 and under should NEVER be allowed to ride in the front seat, especially if a vehicle has dual air bags, which can activate and cause serious harm to children.
-- Be a role model for children. They are more likely to use seatbelts when trusted adults buckle up.

    To help reinforce these points, MetLife Auto & Home offers an informative brochure called "In the Driver's Seat: About Driving Safety," containing a wealth of information relating to safe driving -- including tips on seatbelt and carseat safety, defensive driving, and simple car maintenance. The brochure is available for free to the public by calling 1-800-638-5443 (1-800-MET-LIFE).
    MetLife Auto & Home, an affiliate of MetLife, Inc. , is one of the nation's leading personal lines property and casualty companies with more than 2.7 million policies in force. For more information about MetLife Auto & Home, contact your local MetLife Auto & Home provider or authorized Independent Agent, or visit MetLife's website at www.metlife.com.

    MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its Affiliates, Warwick, RI.