Students planning to travel for Thanksgiving should think twice before driving without a seat belt as the state continues a seat belt safety campaign throughout the month of November.
The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission launched the campaign Nov. 1 and hopes to keep people safe by buckling up.
“Buckle Up. No Excuses,” is an effort to keep injuries and fatalities down where motorists are second to last in the state for numbers of usage, according to a Louisiana Highway Safety Commission news release.
Ben Pressburg, LHSC program coordinator and public information officer, said unlike other states that have secondary seat belt laws, Louisiana’s is primary, which means a police official can pull someone over for the sole reason of not wearing a seat belt.
“There is usually a fine for violating this law, but it’s really up to the [district attorney] in that parish to decide what that will be,” Pressburg said.
According to the traffic office of East Baton Rouge Parish, the fine for not wearing a seat belt is $35.
Pressburg said the campaign is particularly important during holidays because more people are traveling, and college students should remember the law on their way home.
“We want to see them arrive safely,” he said. “That’s our primary focus. We don’t want to see anyone’s mother or father have to claim them or see them injured, so buckle up every trip, every time.”
Helmut Schneider, ISDS chair, is involved in extensive studies by LHSC on seat belt use. From his research, he said he has found that Louisiana has one of the lowest usage rates in the nation at 69 percent.
He said about 31 percent of motorists do not wear seat belts and although it may seem like a small number, the statistics on those drivers are not promising.
“Only 31 percent don’t wear seat belts, but 65 percent of those people are killed because of it,” Schneider said. “Wearing a seat belt not only save lives but prevents injuries.”
He said a common myth about wearing seat belts is that they can actually do more harm by restricting a person.
“One reason seat belts are helpful would be if someone was in a roll-over and they won’t get thrown out of the car,” Schneider said.
He said each percentage increase of seat belt usage would account for many financial and physical benefits.
“It would prevent at least 14 deaths and 435 injuries a year, and save taxpayers who pay insurance about $35 million a year,” he said.
His advice to students driving home is to take their time.
“People in Louisiana drive too close because we’re all in a hurry,” Schneider said. “Take your time. It might be five minutes later, but you’ll get there eventually.”