VINCENNES, Ind. (AP) – Authorities are rolling out a federally funded initiative aiming to crack down on seat belt violators in rural areas of Knox County.

The Rural Demonstration Project, an annual traffic safety effort supported by federal highway funds, recently was launched by the Knox County Sheriff's Department in conjunction with the Vincennes City Police Department. Knox County Sheriff Mike Morris tells WTHI-TV that it's a consolidated effort to make the county safer.

The Vincennes City Police Department says about 460 people were killed last year on rural roadways in Indiana. The department says statistics show rural roadways pose greater risk of injury or death than those in urban or suburban areas.

The county will take part in the patrol until April 25.