Buckle Up for Thanksgiving Travel

November 17, 2011

Don’t Turn Thanksgiving into a Tragedy
Buckle Up America. Every Trip. Every Time. Urges Richland County Safe Communities Coalition 

The Richland County Safe Communities Coalition is reminding highway travelers this Thanksgiving that the only belt that should be left unbuckled this year, or any year, is the one holding up your trousers--not the seat belts in your car.

“Seat belts have saved more lives than any other single piece of automotive safety equipment,” said Reed Richmond, Health Educator at the Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department and Safe Communities partner. “But in order for them to work, they have to be used.  This Thanksgiving, and every day and night of the year, make sure you buckle up your seat belt and you’ll have the opportunity to unbuckle that other belt at the feast table with your family and friends.”

Nationally, during the Thanksgiving holiday period in 2009 (which ran from 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, to 5:59 a.m., Monday, November 30), 303 passenger vehicle occupants died in motor vehicle traffic crashes, including 115 during daylight hours (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) and 187 during night time (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.). One fatality occurred during an unknown time period.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nighttime is one of the more dangerous times on the road because seat belt use is traditionally lower. Of the 187 passenger vehicle occupant deaths at night during the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday period, over one-half (54%) did not have their seat belts fastened (where seat belt use was known); while 49 percent in day time crashes were not wearing seat belts.

 “There is no holiday more closely associated with the American family, or with American travel, than Thanksgiving,” said Richmond.  “But if you hit the highways unbelted, the faces you could be seeing this Holiday might belong to an emergency room physician or nurse instead of the faces of your family and friends.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 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.

While seat belt use is at a record high of 83 percent nationwide, 45 million Americans still fail to buckle up when they get in a motor vehicle.  On any given day about 38 passenger vehicle occupants who are not buckled up are killed in motor vehicle crashes. 

2011 Thanksgiving Talking Points 

OUR POSITION:  The goal is to get more drivers and passengers to buckle up on every trip, every time, day and night.  The Richland County Safe Communities Coalition is urging state and local residents to use seat belts during the 2011 Thanksgiving holiday period, which is one of the most heavily traveled times of the year. 

KEY MESSAGES:

Seat belts save lives – they are the best defense against crash-related injuries and fatalities.

• Wearing a seat belt costs you nothing, but not wearing it could cost you a ticket or worse…your life. We want all drivers and passengers to Click It or Ticket day and night.
• In 2009 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 13,250 lives. An additional 4,152 lives could have been saved if seat belts had been worn at the time of the crashes.
• Additionally, research has shown that when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of a 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.
• Yet, 45 million Americans still fail to buckle up regularly.

The holidays are no different and in fact are often times some of the most dangerous days of the year, especially for those driving at night.

• The holidays, which for many are the happiest times of the year, can quickly turn into a nightmare when loved ones fail to buckle up.
• During the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday travel season, 1,120 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in motor vehicle crashes nationwide.  Of those, more than 50 percent were unrestrained, based on known restraint use. (2009 Thanksgiving’s holiday period was from November 20 to November 30.)
• During the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday weekend alone (Wednesday, November 25 to Monday, November 30), 187 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in motor vehicle crashes occurring during nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) hours nationwide.  Of those, 54 percent were unrestrained, based on known restraint use.

For additional information, please visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov

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