With seat-belt usage in Missouri steadily rising over the past three years, highway safety professionals are hoping for continued progress and eventually seeing the state reach the national average of 90.7 percent.
A news release says the most-recent survey in Missouri conducted in 2019 indicated 87.7-percent usage.
To help encourage increased usage of seat belts, the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is joining with state and local law enforcement during May 18-31 for the annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign.
Safety belts decrease your risk of dying in a crash by 45 percent, according to MoDOT Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer Nicole Hood. She says last year alone, 880 lives were lost in Missouri crashes- 64 percent of those required to be restrained were not at the time of the crash.
The Coalition is asking drivers and passengers to ensure all occupants are buckled before driving, including having all children in the appropriate restraints. Missouri’s child-safety seat survey revealed that when drivers were not buckled up, 33 percent of children were not restrained either; but when the driver was buckled up, 98 percent of children also were restrained.
To ensure safety, you are encouraged to make sure kids use a car seat that is appropriate for their height and weight. Infants should travel in rear-facing car seats until two years old or until they grow out of the rear-facing car seat’s height and weight requirements. Children should travel riding in the back seat of the vehicle until age 13.
To check that your car seat and child are restrained correctly, contact a Child Passenger Safety Technician in your area by calling (800) 800-2358.
For more information about “Click It or Ticket,” visit www.saveMOlives.com.