NEWS RELEASE

Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies are mobilizing with the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) and Law Enforcement from across the state to educate motorists about the importance of wearing your seat belt. Utilizing grant funds from OHS, extra Deputies will be on our roads now through the end of November looking for traffic violations and motorists who are not buckling up. Drivers who don’t make sure everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seatbelt could be faced with a citation and fine, or worse yet the burden of a serious injury or fatal crash.

So far this year the number of fatality crashes has increased each month compared to the previous year despite the fact that approximately 85% of Idahoans wear their seat belt. A number of those fatalities involved unrestrained motorists and potentially could have been prevented if the simple act of buckling up took place. Approximately 82% of unrestrained fatalities happen on rural roads where speed limits tend to be lower, and the amount of traffic is less. This suggests motorists traveling in rural areas may have a false sense of security compared to highway or interstate travel and are not as concerned with the potential consequences of being involved in a crash.

These numbers speak for themselves, and no matter where you go wearing a seat belt makes you 50% less likely to suffer a fatal or serious injury from a traffic crash. The safety systems built into today’s vehicles are designed to work together and provide the best possible protection when occupants are property buckled up. Taking advantage of those safety systems by simply putting on your seat belt every time you get into a vehicle will help keep you from becoming one of these statistics (https://shift-idaho.org/seatbelt-safety/ )

As we move through the holiday season and the extra travel that comes with it, make sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled up so you don’t miss out on spending time with friends and family. Always obey traffic laws, pay complete attention to your driving, avoid distractions from mobile devices, and never get behind the wheel if you have been drinking or using intoxicating substances. Plan ahead for changing weather, make sure your windows are clear, and avoid aggressive driving. Developing good driving habits and buckling up every time will help you avoid the tragedy that comes with a serious crash.

Find more safe driving tips and information on the Idaho Office of Highway Safety website: www.shift-idaho.org