More Than Half People Who Die in KY Holiday Crashes Not Wearing Seat Belts

Fresh off of its campaign to remind drivers to wear their seat belts over the Thanksgiving weekend, the Kentucky State Police has announced a new safe driving initiative for the rest of the holiday season.

“Operation Holiday Lights: All Night, Every Night” is a nighttime law enforcement crackdown aimed at reducing the number of traffic fatalities that occur on Kentucky roads between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. It is underway now and will continue through Jan. 1.

Police are using crash-analysis data to ramp up efforts in counties with the highest incidences of injuries and fatalities, according to a news release. Those posts will utilize heavier patrols, traffic safety checkpoints, covert details and night vision equipment to target unsafe drivers.  Fayette County, which includes Lexington, ranked second among Kentucky counties in traffic fatalities in 2012 and over the last five years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In 2012, 151 people died in Kentucky in crashes involving speeding and 231 people died in vehicle rollover accidents.

As with the Thanksgiving effort, a police spokesperson said one of the key points of the campaign will be to enforce seat-belt laws. Last year, more than half of the people killed in Kentucky car accidents were not wearing safety belts.

However, police are also focusing on making sure that children are properly restrained as well. This is a crucial part of injury and fatality prevention, and yet it is one that is not as simple as it seems.

Research has shown that seven out of 10 kids in child safety seats are not buckled in properly, according to SeatCheck, a national organization that has joined with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other partners to promote car seat safety. The vast majority of parents – 96 percent – believed that their children were secured correctly before evaluations took place.

Booster seats are another important part of child safety on the roads. Using a booster seat is 60 percent safer for children compared to being seat belted alone, yet nearly 70 percent of drivers believe kids age 8 and older no longer need to use a child safety seat or booster seat.

SeatCheck has identified the most common mistakes people make when it comes to child safety seats. They are:

• Not using a child safety seat that is appropriate for the child’s age and size;
• Facing the child safety seat in the wrong direction;
• Incorrectly installing the seat in relation to the vehicle’s airbags;
• Incorrect installation and tightness of the child safety seat to the vehicle’s seat;
• Failure to secure a child’s safety straps;
• Improper use of locking clips for certain vehicle safety belts;
• Not checking that the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly across a child in a booster seat;
• Using a broken or defective child safety seat.

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death and injury for children of all ages. If you are unsure of whether your children are restrained properly, do not hesitate to check. You can schedule for a certified technician to evaluate the placement and fit of your child’s safety seat for free by calling (866) SEAT-CHECK today. The NHTSA also provides a list of locations that can perform car seat checks throughout Kentucky.

Fresh off of its campaign to remind drivers to wear their seat belts over the Thanksgiving weekend, the Kentucky State Police has announced a new safe driving initiative for the rest of the holiday season.

“Operation Holiday Lights: All Night, Every Night” is a nighttime law enforcement crackdown aimed at reducing the number of traffic fatalities that occur on Kentucky roads between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. It is underway now and will continue through Jan. 1.

Police are using crash-analysis data to ramp up efforts in counties with the highest incidences of injuries and fatalities, according to a news release. Those posts will utilize heavier patrols, traffic safety checkpoints, covert details and night vision equipment to target unsafe drivers.  Fayette County, which includes Lexington, ranked second among Kentucky counties in traffic fatalities in 2012 and over the last five years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In 2012, 151 people died in Kentucky in crashes involving speeding and 231 people died in vehicle rollover accidents.

As with the Thanksgiving effort, a police spokesperson said one of the key points of the campaign will be to enforce seat-belt laws. Last year, more than half of the people killed in Kentucky car accidents were not wearing safety belts.

However, police are also focusing on making sure that children are properly restrained as well. This is a crucial part of injury and fatality prevention, and yet it is one that is not as simple as it seems.

Research has shown that seven out of 10 kids in child safety seats are not buckled in properly, according to SeatCheck, a national organization that has joined with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other partners to promote car seat safety. The vast majority of parents – 96 percent – believed that their children were secured correctly before evaluations took place.

Booster seats are another important part of child safety on the roads. Using a booster seat is 60 percent safer for children compared to being seat belted alone, yet nearly 70 percent of drivers believe kids age 8 and older no longer need to use a child safety seat or booster seat.

SeatCheck has identified the most common mistakes people make when it comes to child safety seats. They are:

·         Not using a child safety seat that is appropriate for the child’s age and size;

·         Facing the child safety seat in the wrong direction;

·         Incorrectly installing the seat in relation to the vehicle’s airbags;

·         Incorrect installation and tightness of the child safety seat to the vehicle’s seat;

·         Failure to secure a child’s safety straps;

·         Improper use of locking clips for certain vehicle safety belts;

·         Not checking that the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly across a child in a booster seat;

·         Using a broken or defective child safety seat. 

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death and injury for children of all ages. If you are unsure of whether your children are restrained properly, do not hesitate to check. You can schedule for a certified technician to evaluate the placement and fit of your child’s safety seat for free by calling (866) SEAT-CHECK today. The NHTSA also provides a list of locations that can perform car seat checks throughout Kentucky.