Make sure to buckle up this holiday week.

The Oskaloosa Police Department, along with most of the state's police officers, deputy sheriffs, state troopers and DOT officers, are participating in an effort urging everyone to buckle up, as part of Iowa's special Traffic Enforcement Program, or sTEP.  From November 19 to 25, in addition to safety belt violations, officers will also pay close attention to impaired drivers and other moving violations.  According to a press release from the Oskaloosa Police Department, 92 percent of Iowa motorists are using safety belts during the daytime hours, but it's still a problem, especially in the rural communities.

Patrick Hoye, Bureau Chief of the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau continues to stress the importance of buckling up during the daytime hours and especially at night.

"Seat belts save lives and that is the bottom line," says Hoye.

As of November 1, more than 37 percent of this year's 299 fatalities have been determined to have not been wearing seat belts, according to the release.  Buckling up increases your odds of surviving a major crash.

During the last sTEP wave in August and September, Iowa officers confronted 2,358 seat belt violations, 847 impaired drivers, 13,443 speeding violations, and more than 34,335 contacts with traffic violators.  Vehicle assistance was given to 1,980 motorists and 419 arrest warrants were served.  The next sTEP wave is scheduled for March 14-17, 2013.