The Thanksgiving holiday marks the beginning of a busy season for motorists traveling through our great State. In an effort to encourage safe travel, for every trip, the Vermont Governor’s Highway Safety Program will be sponsoring a Holiday Click It or Ticket campaign. Motorists in Vermont can expect to see an increased number of law enforcement officers on the roadways enforcing the occupant protection laws. The Highway Safety office manages federal funds allocated for vehicle occupant protection enforcement. This year’s campaign will begin on Wednesday November 26th and continue through Sunday November 30.
The increased volume of vehicles will include students returning home, families traveling to visit loved ones, shoppers and daily traffic. Those traveling should make sure that all occupants are using proper safety restraints while in their vehicles. Seatbelts and properly installed Child Passenger seats are your best protection in the event of a crash. Studies have found that many child passenger seats are not installed properly. If you need help with an installation call the Seat Smart hotline at 1-888-VMT-SEAT or 1-888-868-7328.
So far this year, over 37 people have lost their lives on our roadways. Nationally, 300 people were killed over this holiday in 2012. Nearly half of these victims were not properly restrained. These are your family, your friends and your co-workers. If you know someone who does not wear their seatbelt let them know how important they are to you and others. Everyday thousands of Vermonters travel without wearing a seat belt.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises that research indicates that hundreds of people will suffer life altering injuries on roadways across the nation in just the few short days of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Law Enforcement Liaisons at the Governor’s Highway Safety office stress that wearing safety belts in conjunction with airbags are the single most important safety devices in your car. Please take that extra moment to make sure your children, your passengers and you, are secured properly in your car or truck.
Enjoy a wonderful holiday season with family and friends this year and for many years to come. Please slow down and “Click It” for every trip. Thank you.
Source: Vermont State Police 11.19.2014