The Bradley County Sheriff's Office wants to reach all Thanksgiving travelers with one message: Buckle Up.
"It's not just the law, it's the smart thing to do," officials said. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that proper seat belt use reduces the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passengers by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate to serious injury by 50 percent. In 2012, approximately 12,174 people survived crashes because they were buckled up. If everyone had worn their seat belts that year, an additional 3,031 lives could have been saved, according to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety while announcing this year’s two-week "Click It or Ticket" mobilization.
The BCSO's newly formed Public Safety unit will be in full force this holiday season and will target drivers and passengers who are not properly restrained in motor vehicles as well as adults who do not properly restrain children.
“More than half the drivers and passengers that are killed in crashes aren’t wearing seat belts.
That’s a major problem that CAN be prevented,” said Sheriff Eric Watson of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office. “With lower gas prices this year, we’re going to see more drivers on our roads for the holidays, and unfortunately, that usually means more crashes on our roadways. But it doesn’t have to make for a deadly holiday season. Buckle up and make it home safely this year.”
NHTSA data reveals that males are more likely to be unbuckled than females in a fatal crash. And, according to Sheriff Watson, younger drivers are the most likely to be unbuckled in a fatal crash.
“If you are one of the smart people who already buckle up every time: Thank you.” Sheriff Watson said. For those people who still don’t buckle up for whatever reason, I want to say this: Buckling your seat belt is one of the simplest, safest things you’ll ever do. And remember, Click It Or Ticket."