BreeAnn Silcox, coordinator, Safe Kids Bear River
Over the past five years, almost half of all people who died on Utah’s roads weren’t wearing seatbelts. Not only is it the law, but travelers are 45 times more likely to die in a crash if unrestrained. Simply put, seatbelts are the single most effective traffic safety device for preventing death and injury. Wearing a seatbelt properly can make a difference, too. The shoulder belt should fit across the center of your chest and avoid your neck; the lap belt should fit snugly across your hips, not your stomach. Encourage everyone to buckle up on every ride, every time. It only takes one time to forget to buckle up for a life to be changed forever.
5 Tips for Families
1. Buckle up on every ride. This is important for everyone, both drivers and passengers.
2. Speak up if you notice that someone in the car isn’t wearing their seatbelt.
3. Talk to teens and kids about ways to speak up if a driver of any age isn’t driving safely, or if people in the vehicle are not wearing a seatbelt.
4. Children should always be properly restrained in a car seat or booster seat until the seatbelt fits them correctly, which is when they reach about 4’9” tall.
5. Set an example with your driving habits.
Call the Bear River Health Department at (435) 792-6500 or visit safekids.org to learn more.
