By RODNEY HART

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Erin Heers had the fear instilled in her many years ago, when she was learning how to drive.

That fear may have saved her life, maybe more than once.

The Quincy resident has been behind the wheel three times when another car struck her vehicle, and she has no doubt she's been saved from serious injury -- or worse -- because she was wearing a seat belt each time.

Heers, 34, was chosen by the Quincy Police Department as this year's Saved by the Belt winner.

In her latest saved-by moment, Heers was driving to downtown Quincy about 11 a.m. Dec. 21 when her car was smacked by another driver at Seventh and Vermont.

"I remember watching 'Blood on the Highway' in drivers ed," Heers said Tuesday while getting the award from Chief Rob Copley and traffic safety officer Neal Meyer at QPD headquarters. "Everybody used to tease me about it in high school, but I've always worn my seat belt."

Saved by the Belt is an annual QPD award designed to show the importance and effectiveness of using seat belts.

While in high school, Heers was struck by a vehicle making an illegal left turn in front of her. She hit the windshield so hard it broke, but her seat belt may have kept her from being ejected from the vehicle.

Another time she was struck by a car that failed to stop at a stop sign. Like the December crash, the car hit her vehicle in the right rear passenger door area.

In the December crash, Heers was heading west on Vermont when she saw the other vehicle coming from her right and going through the stop sign.

After being hit, Heers reached down to grab her cell phone and felt shooting pains in her neck. She suffered a torn rotator cuff and continues to get therapy for back and neck pain.

The other car, a small Volkswagen, sustained major damage. Chunks of the Volkswagen were imbedded in the tires, but fortunately the driver wasn't seriously hurt.

Heers, who works as a fine arts jeweler, says she was grateful to get the Saved by the Belt award.

She has a rule about people who get in her car with her.

"Anybody riding in my car has to wear a seat belt," she said. "I'm a stickler about it."

-- rhart@whig.com/221-3370