Crime

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, people will soon flock to the roads to visit and celebrate with family and friends. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office reminds all travelers, whether they are heading across the country or just across town, to ensure a safe arrival and a happy holiday by buckling up every time they travel.“The risk of being involved in a serious or deadly car crash increases when the number of cars on the road increases, and the long Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest travel times of the year,” said Sheriff Laurie Smith. “So we want to remind everyone that your seat belts can save your life – and those you are traveling with.”According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts saved almost 12,000 lives nationwide in 2011. Research shows that with proper seat belt use, 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.Such a simple step can save a life, but too many lives are being lost because some have still not gotten the message, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office. During the 2011 Thanksgiving period, 249 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes nationwide. Fifty percent of those killed were not wearing seat belts. California witnessed 24 passenger vehicle occupants killed that same yearwith 10 of those found to have died without using their safety restraints.In 2011, 52 percent of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in motor vehicle crashes were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. In California, 27 percent of the 1,597 vehicle occupants were killed while not using their occupant restraints; a total of 434 deaths, according to the press release.Nationally in 2011, 62 percent of the 10,135 passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in nighttime crashes were not wearing their seat belts, compared to 43 percent during the daytime hours, according to authorities.“All too often, we see crash victims who were caught up in the excitement of the Thanksgiving holiday and didn’t arrive safely at their destination,” Smith added. “We want to remind everyone who will be on the roads to please buckle up - Every Trip, Every Time - so you can give thanks this holiday season and enjoy the time with your loved ones.”

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