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Buckle Buckle Buckle
Buckle Up America. Every Trip. Every Time.
| Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Region 7
KANSAS CITY, MO--(Marketwire - November 23, 2009) - Area traffic safety officials expect
highway travel during the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday week to be heavy in
Missouri as families pile into their cars and head off for holiday
destinations. But there's one sure recipe that can turn a joyful holiday
into a tragedy: failure to buckle up.
"Seat belts are the single most important safety device in your vehicle and
they have saved countless lives and prevented untold numbers of injuries
over the years," said Romell Cooks, Regional Administrator NHTSA (National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Region 7. "I urge everyone driving
on our state's roads this holiday to drive carefully, don't drive impaired
and, most important, buckle up each and every trip, night or day."
Nationally, during the Thanksgiving holiday period in 2008 (which ran from
6 p.m. Wednesday, November 26, to 5:59 a.m., Monday, December 1), 389
passenger vehicle occupants died in motor vehicle traffic crashes,
including 156 during daylight hours (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) and 231 during
nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.). Two fatalities were unknown regarding
time. In Missouri, during the same period in 2008, there were 14
fatalities.
Nighttime is the most dangerous time on the road because seat belt use is
lower. Of the 231 passenger vehicle occupant deaths in motor vehicle
traffic crashes at night during the 2008 Thanksgiving holiday period, over
two-thirds (67%) did not have their seat belts fastened (where seat belt
use was known), while 40 percent of fatalities in daytime crashes were not
wearing seat belts.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, regular
seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce
fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. Research has shown that when lap and
shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury to front-seat
passenger car occupants is reduced by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate
to serious injury is reduced by 50 percent.
For more information about highway safety during Thanksgiving, please visit
www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.