DETROIT, May 26 -- The St. Louis Cardinals and Busch Stadium are hoping to help make it a record-breaking season in Missouri this year. Record- breaking for safety belt use that is.

The Cardinals are teaming up with the Missouri Department of Transportation to boost safety belt use to 75 percent, which would mean an increase of over 2% from 2003.

Busch Stadium parking lots are sporting new Click It or Ticket signs and stadium announcers will remind fans to buckle up during games this Memorial Day weekend. Tonight's game will feature a special welcome announcement recognizing Thomas Rettew, a "saved by the belt" survivor and law enforcement officers who are engaged to strict enforcement efforts during this popular travel time.

Sporting events are an ideal venue for traffic safety messages, according to state traffic safety officials. That's because a core fan base, young men, is consistently the least likely to buckle up.

"This partnership definitely is one for the win column," said Joyce Shaul, MODOT director of the highway safety division.

The partnership developed through the TEAM Coalition whose supporters include both Major League Baseball and NHTSA. TEAM is an alliance of professional sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, the beer industry, broadcasters, governmental traffic safety experts, and others working together to promote responsible drinking, increased safety belt use and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities.

TEAM executive director Jill Pepper said, "The Cardinals are a great example of a professional sports organization that prioritizes the safety and enjoyment of their fans' experience at the ballpark through programs and policies that encourage responsible behavior. The Click It or Ticket message is a perfect compliment."

A two-week national safety belt mobilization starts May 24th and continues through June 6th. More than 500 Michigan law enforcement agencies are making safety belt enforcement a priority in an effort to increase safety belt use.