Seat belt effort soars
Student program expands far beyond Crystal Lake origins

When Crystal Lake police Officer Sean McGrath brought an Illinois StatePolice safe-driving program to local high schools in 1998, he figured it wouldcreate a little friendly public relations between police and residents.
It did that – and much more.
Operation Cool gained acceptance in Crystal Lake, but it also gainedacceptance elsewhere. Now, after a name change, the program is poised toexplode across the suburbs and other places. Five schools have been added thisyear. Three Downstate schools are ready to start programs and 10 othersuburban schools have asked about starting a program. In addition, Wal-Mart iscommitting seed money.
“I just thought it was going to be a Crystal Lake program and it was goingto stay that way,” McGrath said. “I never thought it would get this big.”
Now called Operation Click, a name change that allows more flexibility, thenon-profit, all-volunteer program operates from a simple premise: Relevantincentives in a program run largely by teens motivate them to use seat beltsand drive safely.
Here’s how it works: In the fall, sophomores, juniors and seniors who havedrivers licenses sign a contract requiring them and their passengers to wearseat belts, not to drive after drinking or get in the car with someone who hasand to maintain a clean driving record. During the year, teachers conduct”undercover” surveys of student drivers in and around the schools.
Some students found buckled up are given freebies, a gift card or a couponfor a sandwich, coffee, doughnuts or similar treat, all donated by localmerchants. If the surveys show a seat belt compliance rate of 90 percent to 95percent at a school, one student’s contract is drawn from the stack and thatstudent is eligible for a new car, donated by Crystal Lake Pontiac-GMC andgiven away at a banquet in April. At schools showing seat belt rates at 95percent and higher, two students get a new car.
“We don’t know how many students’ lives we are able to save with thisprogram,” McGrath said.
That potential is shown in seat belt compliance rates in the three schoolsthat embraced the program in 1998. At that time, seat belt use at Crystal LakeCentral, Crystal Lake South and Prairie Ridge High Schools was 65 percent.Latest surveys at those schools showed compliance rates of 93 percent andhigher.
“I’m not going to say that Operation Click is the answer, but I am sayingit will help,” McGrath said. “It will save some lives.”
Other school administrators and police departments agree. Cary-Grove HighSchool in Cary established a program last year. This year, McHenry East andWest, Barrington, Wauconda and Woodstock High Schools have started programs.Three schools in Champaign County are expected to establish programs in thenext few weeks.
And, McGrath said, officials at Buffalo Grove, Harvard, Palatine andRichmond-Burton High Schools and police departments that work with Conant, ElkGrove, Hersey, New Trier and St. Viator High Schools have expressed interestin starting programs at those institutions.
Wal-Mart is boosting its involvement too. After donating more than $10,000to the Crystal Lake Operation Click programs, the retail giant has agreed todonate $1,000 to any community in Illinois that establishes a program.
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 tgregory@tribune.com