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On the Radar – Buckle Up
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts are the single most effective safety technology in the history of the automobile. Vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death, with most of those fatalities being attributed to unbelted motorists.
The Click It or Ticket Campaign is a national effort to increase awareness of the importance of wearing your seatbelt. This year’s campaign is currently running from May 14th through June 3rd. Here’s a good statistic to remember: approximately 75% of all crashes occur within 25 miles from home and wearing your seatbelt can reduce your risk of fatal injury by 60%. So that quick trip to the grocery store, school, or grandma’s house is where you will most likely be involved in a crash.
In addition to seatbelts, we emphasize the proper use and installation of your child safety seats. Everyone under the age of 18 is required to be in an age appropriate restraint system. These include child safety seats, booster seats, or seat belt. Adult front seat vehicle occupants are required to wear seats. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure all passengers are properly restrained. Children under age 2 are required to be rear-facing in a child safety seat. Children age 2-4 are required to be in a child safety seat, but can be forward facing. Children age 4-8 are required to be in a booster seat. PA law is only dictated by age – not height and weight. It is the best practice though, to keep children in a child safety seat as long as they fit the height/weight restrictions of that seat and stay in a booster seat until they reach a height of 4’9”. And finally, all children under the age of 13 should ride in the back seat away from the air bag.
It’s also interesting to know that there are different types of collisions that occur when you are involved in a crash. The first collision is the impact of your vehicle with an object such as a tree, guide rail or another vehicle. The second collision happens inside the vehicle. This is where the seat belt comes into play. Anything that is unrestrained inside the vehicle such as you, your passengers, or other loose items become projectiles until they are stopped by some other object such as the windshield, steering wheel, other vehicle occupants, or become ejected from the vehicle. Your seat belt keeps you from colliding with these objects.
Some drivers may argue that it is their own choice and their own safety as far as wearing their seatbelt. Just remember – if you become that projectile because you chose not to wear the seatbelt and are no longer able to maintain your position as the driver – you have also endangered your passengers and other motorists around you.
Please remember that your decisions do affect others. Buckle up every time.
If you would like a child safety seat to be inspected for proper fit and installation, please contact your local PA State Police station to schedule an appointment with a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.
Credits:
Idea/Concept: Trooper Angela Bieber
Videography: Andrew Moore
Video Editing: Andrew Moore
Writing: Trooper Angela Bieber
Produced by Vogt Media
Home Page Sponsors: Laurel Health Centers, Matthews Motor Company