February 22nd, 2010

Embrace Life Always Wear Your Seatbelt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-8PBx7isoM

 I wanted to share this video link with everyone. Of all the public service announcements I’ve seen in recent years dealing with the seat belt usage issue, I think that this is the one that really hits home, in a strange sort of way. It has had almost 1.5 million hits worldwide since being posted.

If you will look under the recent news section of our website, you will see that we investigate a large number of car crashes here locally. We know that statistics show that you have a much better chance of surviving a car crash if you are wearing a seat belt.

Sunday, a CNN report showed a wear your seatbelt commercial created in England by  writer/director Daniel Cox. The video is called Embrace Life, Always wear your Seatbelt, and promotes the safety of wearing your seatbelt in case of an accident. The commercial is being credited with its beauty.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
Wearing a seatbelt reduces risk of fatal injury by 45% in the US
In 2008, seatbelts saved 13,000 lives in 2008
And seatbelt use up to 84% for last year

All states in the US require that people wear their seatbelt and if a driver or passenger is caught not wearing it, then they are usually issued a ticket. But the seatbelt law in many states wasn’t put into effect until the 1980s and 1990s in the US, and some drivers are still not in the habit of wearing it. Some people also feel strongly about the dangers of wearing a seatbelt.

If anyone needs further information about seatbelt usage, or highway safety in general, The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety website www.highwaysafety.ky.gov has some very good information on just about every topic. We have worked with them many times on several projects, and their website is our first stop when we are looking for traffic information here in Kentucky. 

From time to time, I come across useful items, just like this one, that I want to pass on to you. When I do, I will post them here, so please check back often.

Thanks,

Sheriff Jon Hayden