As part of the national mobilization campaign to encourage safety belt use, many law enforcement agencies have teamed with each other—and in Massachusetts, the state’s department of public safety has teamed with a major league ballpark.

This week the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park began a campaign to promote safety belt use to fans with new in-stadium advertisements. By partnering with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety, the team hopes to convince fans to drive more safely. Government statistics show this demographic is at greater risk of being injured or killed in a car crash.

NHTSA’s recently released 2003 preliminary national statistics show that nationwide, more than 6,400 men under the age of 34 are killed in crashes every year, and 72 percent of them typically do not wear seat belts.

The two-week national safety belt mobilization runs from May 24 to June 6. A $30 million advertising campaign is running commercial spots during television shows, especially sporting events, watched by the target demographic of teen and young adult males.

For more information on this and other programs to promote seatbelt use, visit www.teamcoalition.org or www.buckleupamerica.org or www.nhtsa.org.