HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. -- State police in the Alleghenies are concerned about just how many deadly accidents they've already seen this year. They said at the rate we're going, 2008 could be the worst in years for lives lost in car crashes.

Fourteen people in the area have died this year in car accidents. According to police, 10 of those deaths could have been prevented if they were simply wearing their seat belts. And the numbers don't even take into account all of the serious injuries.

State police from Troop G in Hollidaysburg said those were crashes in Blair, Bedford, Huntingdon, Centre, Fulton, Juniata and Mifflin counties. And a lot of the victims were ejected from their cars because they weren't wearing seat belts, while their passengers simply walked away. According to police, it's mostly the younger generation that's not buckling up.

Police said they're not sure why that is, but if it doesn't change residents will be seeing many more terrible tragedies. They said people need to buckle up.

State police said they're ramping up patrols and they're keeping their eye out for drivers and passengers who are not buckled up. While not wearing a seat belt is only a secondary offense in Pennsylvania, it is an additional $10 fine.