GREENFIELD — Although the pandemic may have curbed some travel plans for Thanksgiving, public safety officials are reminding those who plan to hit the road to buckle up and drive sober.
“Due to the pandemic, we anticipate fewer vehicles on the road, but precautions still need to be taken, like wearing a seat belt and designating a sober driver,” said Chief Jeff Rasche of the Greenfield Police Department.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts saved an estimated 374,196 lives from 1975 to 2017.
While Indiana’s seat belt usage rate is above 90%, more than half of the people who were killed in motor vehicle crashes last year were not wearing seat belts.
Drunken driving continues to be a menace. Every day, almost 30 people in the country die in drunken driving crashes, NHTSA data shows. In Indiana, 106 people died in alcohol-impaired collisions in 2019, representing 13% of the state’s traffic fatalities.
“In a year when miles traveled are down, traffic fatalities are up 9% from this time last year,” said Rob Duckworth, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Traffic Safety director, in a news release.
Things like slower speeds and wearing seat belts are two of the best ways to prevent further crashes, along with driving sober, experts say.
Further, vehicle crashes continue to be a leading cause of death for kids 8 to 15. For families with children, it’s important to have a properly installed child safety seat or booster seat for each child.
Parents can visit www.childseat.in.gov for a list of locations and a toll-free phone number to speak with experts about the proper installation of child safety seats.
All the standard warnings come with an added caveat this holiday season, however.
“We highly recommend everyone adhere to local guidelines, practice social distancing, wear masks, and take all other necessary precautions to avoid spreading COVID-19,” said Capt. Robert Harris of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.
