Every year, the Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel times. Millions of Americans hit the roads to spend time with family and friends.  Unfortunately, more vehicles on the road means the potential for more dangerous roads, and it’s as important as ever that everyone is buckled up.  The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office will be joining with other state and local law enforcement agencies in the high-visibility “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign during this holiday.  This no-excuses crackdown combines powerful messages about seat belt safety, with increased patrols day and night targeting all unbuckled motorists.

     Almost half of the passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes are not wearing their seat belts.  During the 2013 Thanksgiving holiday period, there were 301 passenger vehicle occupants killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes nationwide.  Fifty-eight percent (58%) of those killed were NOT wearing seat belts.

     Whether you’re driving to the grocery store, a friend’s house a mile away, or driving across the country, please buckle up this Thanksgiving and whenever you are on the road.  It only takes a second to buckle up, and that’s much less inconvenient than getting pulled over and ticketed……and it may well save your life.

Baxter County Sheriff’s Office