THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY TRAVEL TIPS

        By:  Abraham Diaz

The goal is to get more drivers and passengers to always buckle up every trip, every time, night and day. The Laredo Police Department is urging state and local residents to use seat belts during the 2008 Thanksgiving Holiday period, one of the most heavily traveled of all U.S. holidays.

The Thanksgiving holiday should be a joyous time for all families in America, but far too often the celebration turns to tragedy on the nation’s highways. 

Everyone driving on our nation’s/state’s roads this holiday week should drive carefully and defensively, don’t drive impaired and, most importantly, buckle up each and every trip.

To lose a loved one is a terrible thing to experience, especially during America’s family holiday, but to lose one’s life when it might have been saved by taking two seconds to buckle a seat belt is truly senseless.  When you’re in your vehicle, whether for long trips or short, please remember to buckle up every trip, every time.

Far too often, this good advice isn’t heeded.  Nationally, during the Thanksgiving holiday period in 2006, some 457 passenger vehicle occupants died in motor vehicle traffic crashes, including 188 during daylight hours and 266 during night time (three deaths were unknown regarding time).

Night time is one of the more dangerous times on the road because seat belt use is lower.  Of the 266 night-time Thanksgiving passenger vehicle occupant deaths, well over half (138) died with their seat belts unfastened (where seat belt use was known); while almost half of the day-time deaths were not wearing seat belts.

Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes, according to NHTSA.  Research has shown that when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers is reduced by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate to serious injury is reduced by 50 percent.

The Laredo Police Department wishes everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving.  And remember, the only belt you should unbuckle this, and every Thanksgiving, is the one at the dinner table, not the one in your car

Thanksgiving holiday period is from 6:00 pm Wednesday, November 23, 2006 to 5:59 am Monday, November 27, 2006

         Seat belts save lives – they are the best defense against injuries and fatalities

• In 2006 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 15,415 lives. An additional 5,537 lives could have been saved if seat belts were worn at the time of the crash.

• One in five Americans still fails to buckle up regularly.

• Employing safe driving practices, day and night, is the key to keeping drivers, their passengers, and other motorists on our nation's highways safe. A seat belt can mean the difference between life and death.

For additional information, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.