Enjoy your Fourth - buckle up

In 2008, 174 occupants died on Montana highways in crashes involving passenger vehicles. More than 71 percent of them – 124 drivers and passengers either didn’t use or improperly used their seatbelts.

In all likelihood, most, if not all of the 81 people who were killed because they were  partially or completely ejected would be alive today had they been wearing their seatbelts.

Buckling up on every trip - not just the long distance ones- can save lives. Not wearing a seatbelt doubles your chances of being seriously hurt in a crash. Remember that most accidents occur at speeds less than 40 miles per hour,  often within 25 miles of home. It will be especially important this Fourth of July holiday weekend to buckle up and drive patiently as traffic will be heavy with the parade and fireworks display.

Seatbelts and air bags are meant to work together to keep drivers and passengers safe.  The presence of air bags in a vehicle doesn’t mean seatbelts are unnecessary.

Consistent research has shown that fewer people are buckling up at night, when the risk of being in a fatal crash is the greatest. That is why Polson police will be out in force at night as well as during the day to make sure drivers and passengers take seat belts and seat belt laws, seriously.

In the 2008 Montana Highway Patrol Annual Report more crashes occurred between 4-5 p.m. than any other hours of the day. More crashes occurred on Friday than any other day of the week. More fatal crashes occurred between 1-2 p.m. in 2008.

More fatal crashes occurred on Sunday than any other day of the week. Please be safe when you travel home from weekend activities.

Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.  When worn correctly, seat belts have been proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent, and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans.

Seat belts are the single most effective piece of safety equipment in a vehicle,  yet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration observational studies show that nearly 1 out of 5 Americans still fail to wear a seat belt when driving or riding in a motor vehicle.

Seat belts clearly save lives.

But, unfortunately, too many folks still need a tough reminder, so we are going to be out in force day and night in 2009 buckling down on those who are not buckled up. Wearing your seat belt costs  you nothing, but not wearing it will. 

So unless you want to risk a ticket, or worse, your life, please remember to buckle up night and day.