Arkansas State Police offer holiday traffic advisory

(LITTLE ROCK) – Across the nation the approaching Thanksgiving holiday means

increased traffic on state roads and U.S. highways. In Arkansas state and local law

enforcement agencies will be working extra-duty patrols throughout the holiday period to

ensure holiday travelers remain safe. The initiative is part of the Click It or Ticket

campaign and the objective to increase seat belt use by reminding motorists to buckle-up,

every trip, day and night.

   “The importance of buckling up every time you get into a vehicle cannot be stressed

often enough,” said Colonel Winford E. Phillips, Director of the Arkansas State Police.

“Nighttime driving can be more dangerous because of reduced visibility and the possibility

of impaired drivers being on the road.” Colonel Phillips said.

Law enforcement agencies across the state will conduct increased traffic safety

enforcement activities as part of the week long Thanksgiving mobilization, which begins

November 22nd.

   “Highly visible patrols promote compliance with traffic laws and support officers’ efforts

to prevent deaths and injuries,” said Phillips.

During the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday travel period in Arkansas, five people lost their

lives and 135 were seriously injured as the result of traffic crashes.

 “Sadly, a holiday, which for many is the happiest time of the year, can be one of the

deadliest and most tragic,” said Colonel Phillips. “Use of safety restraints is one of the

simplest and most important actions a driver or passenger can take and the life-saving

benefits of seat belts and child safety restraints are indisputable; there’s no good excuse

not to buckle up.”

    According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), during 2008

on U.S. roadways, nearly 13,000 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants (drivers and

passengers) became highway crash fatality victims. It’s estimated that nearly one third of

these lives could have been saved if they had been properly belted. NHTSA statistics also

show that those least likely to buckle up are teens, young adult males, nighttime riders,

motorists traveling on rural roads and individuals traveling in pickup trucks.

     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 passenger car

occupants is reduced by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate to serious injury is reduced

by 50 percent.

   For more information about the Thanksgiving Click It or Ticket campaign for highway

safety, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at

(501) 618-8136.