BAKER — A seat belt safety campaign aimed at young drivers and passengers launched Tuesday at Baker High School.

State and local officials, student leaders and community members gathered at the school for the rollout of the "Seat Belts Look Good on You!" campaign.

During the event, the Baker High School band performed an original song composed for the campaign, accompanied by the school's cheerleaders and dance team. The premiere also featured a transportation-themed spelling bee.

The initiative promotes safe driving habits among students in the City of Baker School System and urges motorists across Louisiana to buckle up through the upcoming holiday and Bayou Classic season.

According to data from the LSU Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety, Louisiana recorded 512 fatalities and 3,073 suspected serious injuries among people ages 15 to 24 from 2023 to 2025. East Baton Rouge Parish accounted for 45 fatalities and 416 suspected serious injuries in that age group over the same span.

Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of unintentional death for Americans ages 15 to 24. Campaign organizers said they hope to curb those numbers through proactive education, peer influence, and community outreach.