JACKSON, Miss.- The Mississippi Department of Transportation has reminded all drivers to buckle up before putting the car in drive this holiday weekend.
In 2015 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that the national average for seat belt usage was 88 percent, Mississippi averaged at 74 percent, down from 78 in 2014.
The NHTSA estimates that seat belts saved the lives of 13,941 passenger vehicle occupants over the age of five in 2015. However, if everyone had been wearing one at least 2,800 more lives would have been saved.
“Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and unfortunately, that means more vehicle incidents on our roads,” said MDOT Executive Melinda McGrath. “This year, nearly 42 million Americans will travel during this holiday. Buckling up is your best defense against injury or death in the event of a crash.”
Headed to the roadways? Remember these safety tips:
- Buckle up before you even put the car in drive, and make sure all passengers are buckled up too.
- Eliminate all distractions while driving (i.e.- cell phones, Ipads, computers)
- Do not speed.
- Be aware of other drivers and animals on the roads.
“Surviving your Thanksgiving drive this year can be as simple as buckling up,” McGrath said.”In the last decade, seat belts saved the lives of more than 100,000 people in the Unites States.”
