Officer Kristi Mitchell

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-260-0294 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

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Re: Texarkana Arkansas Police Urges Motorists To Buckle Up Every Trip, Every Time, This Thanksgiving Week

The Thanksgiving holiday should be a joyous time for all families in America, but far too often the celebration turns to tragedy on the nation’s highways.

“I urge everyone driving on our state’s roads this holiday period to drive carefully, don’t drive impaired and, most importantly, buckle up each and every trip, night or day,” said Sgt. Michael McQuerrey, of the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department.

Nationally, during the Thanksgiving holiday period in 2006, 457 passenger vehicle occupants died in motor vehicle traffic crashes, including 188 during daylight hours and 266 during night time.

Night time is one of the more dangerous times on the road because seat belt use is lower. Of the 266 night-time Thanksgiving passenger vehicle occupant deaths nationally in 2006, well over half (138) died with their seat belts unfastened (where seat belt use was known); while almost half of the day-time deaths were not wearing seat belts.

“To lose a loved one is a terrible thing to experience, especially during America’s family holiday, but to lose one’s life when it might have been saved by taking two seconds to buckle a seat belt is truly senseless,” said McQuerrey.

Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes, according to NHTSA. Research has shown that when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, 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.

“If you fail to buckle up during this holiday period, you run the risk of getting a ticket, or worse, getting killed or injured,” McQuerrey warned.

For more information about highway safety during Thanksgiving, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.

Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.