With Memorial Day just around the corner, Kentuckians are reminded to buckle up and properly secure children in car seats while travelling. This year’s ‘Click it or Ticket” campaign will run through June 1 to encourage transportation safety.
According to transportation officials, travelling during this time of year can present drivers with more distractions while operating the vehicle. Distracted driving alongside improper seatbelt usage can cause fatal outcomes. Lori Weaver Hawkins, public affairs manager at AAA Bluegrass encouraged Kentuckians to eliminate all distractions before hitting the road.
“Before you head out, make sure you have your navigation set before you leave the driveway, so you’re not trying to adjust it along the way if you need to make adjustments. Have one of your passengers do that for you. Same thing with your climate controls, and entertainment systems. Make sure that those things do not become a distraction while you are on the roadway,” said Weaver Hawkins.
Weaver Hawkins added that putting on a seat belt should be second nature, as they’re the first line of defense in a crash.
Properly fastened seat belts contact the body's strongest parts, such as the chest, hips and shoulders, to spread the force of the crash over a greater surface area. Wearing a seat belt can also ensure that the deploying of airbags is more effective as they are meant to protect those wearing seat belts.
“Last year nearly 25 percent of the occupants involved in vehicle crashes were not wearing seat belts. If you look at just those fatal crashes the number jumps over 30 percent. Wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of fatality by 45 percent and the risk of critical injury by 50 percent,” said Weaver Hawkins.
Law enforcement officials and other agencies are teaming up to spread the word about seat belt safety through local and statewide public service announcements advertising the “Click it or Ticket” campaign.