September 7, 2012 5:20 PM
Janette Colantonio of Summerville, South Carolina says that a traffic ticket she received kick started her journey to lose over 200 pounds. A year and a half ago trooper Mark Amos cited her for failing to wear her seatbelt. At 408 pounds, Colantonio couldn't get the belt across her frame and admitted that she had not buckled up for years. Trooper Amos said, "It happens a lot with South Carolina's obesity rate." The ticket was the inspiration Colantonio needed saying, "I'm sure there's a lot of things that led up to that point, but that ticket was like reality in my face, and I don't know if I would have done it as quickly if I didn't get the ticket." Colantonio continues to lose weight to reach her ultimate goal of 145 pounds. Researchers have found that extremely obese people are 60 percent less likely to buckle up, and are 56 percent more likely to die in a car crash.