ARKANSAS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS URGE
MOTORISTS TO BUCKLE-UP DURING THANKSGIVING TRAVEL
NOVEMBER 14, 2008
(LITTLE ROCK) – The Arkansas State Police will be working alongside
law enforcement agencies across the state during the upcoming
Thanksgiving holiday period (November 24th – 30th). Together the
troopers, local officers and deputies will be reminding all highway
travelers to buckle up.
The Thanksgiving holiday is typically one of the most dangerous and
deadliest times for travel on the nation’s streets and highways.
Whether the trip is across town or across the country, distance makes no
difference, safety belts and restraints save lives.
“Our troopers know from first hand experience that safety belts save
lives,” said Colonel Winford E. Phillips, Director of the Arkansas State
Police and the Governor’s Highway Safety representative. “Unfortunately
too many people need a reminder and that’s why city, county and state
law enforcement officers will be working overtime this Thanksgiving with
a strong Click It or Ticket mobilization effort to help save more
lives.”
During the 2006 Thanksgiving reporting period, 457 passenger vehicle
occupants died in traffic crashes across the country. This includes 188
fatalities during daylight hours and 266 during nighttime (three deaths
were unknown regarding time).
In Arkansas, during the same reporting period, five of the seven
people killed were not using vehicle safety restraints.
Nighttime is one of the more dangerous travel periods. Statistical
records indicate safety belt use tends to be lower during these periods.
Nationally, more than half (138) of the 266 night time Thanksgiving
passenger vehicle occupant fatality victims during 2006 were not wearing
a safety belt at the time of the vehicle crash. Less than half of the
day time fatality victims were not wearing safety belts.
“Losing a loved one is a terrible experience, especially during
America’s family holiday. But losing a loved one who’s life may have
been saved had they been using a safety belt is truly a senseless
tragedy,” Colonel Phillips said.
Regular safety belt use is the single most effective way to protect
people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes, according to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Research has shown that
when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury
to front seat passengers is reduced by 45 percent and the risk of
moderate to serious injury is reduced by 50 percent.
“If you fail to buckle-up during this holiday period, you run the risk
of getting a ticket, or worse, getting killed or injured,” Phillips
warned.
For more information about highway safety during Thanksgiving, please
visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at
(501) 618-8133.
