BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development joins state and local law enforcement agencies and highway safety groups in supporting the “Buckle Up this Thanksgiving – Day and Night” campaign from November 24 to December 1.  

In 2012, 241 people died and 1,385 were seriously injured in Louisiana because they were not wearing a seat belt.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates about half of these lives could have been saved if the person had been wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.  Data from the Louisiana Highway Safety Research Group (HSRG) indicates 56 percent of all occupants who were killed in a traffic-related crash were not wearing their seat belt.  It is estimated that unbelted fatalities and injuries costs the citizens of Louisiana $988,874,140 per year.

As sad as these numbers are, the situation is even worse at night.  An observational survey conducted in Louisiana in 2012 found seat belt use is 11 percentage points lower at night than during the day.

At DOTD, the safety of the traveling public is our number one priority.  Whether it is over the river, through the woods, or down the street, remember to buckle up every trip, every time – no exceptions.  Police will be out ticketing unbelted vehicle occupants night and day to reinforce this important message. 

“Research has shown that fewer people are wearing seat belts at night as opposed to daylight hours even though the risk of being in a fatal crash is greater in the evening,” said Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent.  “That’s why Troopers will continue to be proactive in their patrols day and night to ensure that drivers and passengers take seat belts, and seat belt laws, seriously.”

Edmonson added that regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.  He noted that, 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 NHTSA observational studies show that nearly one out of five Americans still fails to wear a seat belt when driving or riding in a motor vehicle.

“This Thanksgiving, we need to be thankful for our seat belts because they clearly save lives.  But, unfortunately, too many folks still need a tough reminder, so state and local law enforcement are going to be out buckling down on those who are not buckled up,” said Sherri H. LeBas, DOTD Secretary.

Wearing your seat belt costs you nothing, but not wearing it could cost you everything.  So unless you want to risk a ticket, or worse, your life, please remember to buckle up night and day.  Remember – “Buckle Up this Thanksgiving – Day and Night!”  It is Destination Zero Deaths for Louisiana!

For more information, please visit the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission at www.lahighwaysafety.org or NHTSA at www.nhtsa.gov.