During the event, Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Swindell, Patrol assistant superintendent, Bob Kazmierczak,AAA, and State Rep. Michele Grim delivered remarks, stressing the importance of safety belt usage. The Buckle Up – Batter Up “Saved by the Belt” event is an annual initiative that recognizes Ohio crashsurvivors whose lives were saved because they were wearing a safety belt. In addition to the certificate,they also received a special Buckle Up – Batter Up “Saved by the Belt” license plate. “The ‘Saved by the Belt’ program is a powerful reminder of how one decision can save a life,” said ColonelJones. According to 2025 Patrol statistics, 417 people in Ohio were killed in crashes where a safety belt wasavailable but not used.