Today is New Year’s Eve! Tonight there will be far more car accidents compared to any other day. This week’s blog post will not be to inform you of the dangers of being on the road. To save your life, read further to learn how to properly fasten your seat belt.
Seat belt safety:
Seat belts have been proven to be one of the best ways to avoid harsh injuries or even death. This is not new news. Yet many people continue to forget or choose not to wear a seat belt. Even worse, this bad habit leaves a lasting impression on little ones in the car. They may even think its safe for them not to buckle up.
Parents are busy and are not always on point to remind children to wear their seat belt. The best thing we can do as drivers is to remind everyone to buckle up- as well as follow up. Check with your own eyes that everyone has put on their seat belt. After all, it is on your conscience if you were to get in a crash.
While Florida has the Click It or Ticket campaign that focuses on safety education, law enforcement officers saving lives, and strong laws, it is our duty as drivers and parents to strictly remind passengers to buckle up. Refer to last week’s blog regarding the laws for children’s car seats.
Tips for staying safe:
When planning for tonight, do your best to be off the roads by 6 p.m. to avoid the most dangerous time for car accidents and traffic delays. Anytime after six, your chances of getting in a crash greatly increases. According to Safeauto.com, compared to any other weekend night, there are 71% more crashes with drugs or alcohol as a contributing factor between December 31 at 6 p.m. through January first at 6 a.m.
Before going out, select a designated driver that will not be drinking. The driver should not drink at all. If they even have one drink and they get in an accident, that could be very complicated. If possible, spend the night at a friends house.
Better yet, plan a party for a group people and make it an adult slumber party with blow up mattresses and sleeping bags. No need for driving at all! After all, you are more than likely legally responsible if someone leaves your party intoxicated and proceeds to drive.
On the other hand, if you see a person that looks intoxicated, do not hesitate to offer them a ride or help organize a ride for he or she. Take their keys if they are not cooperating. Never be emb
arrassed when asking for a ride. You can laugh about it at a later time once you are home and safe.
Also, do not hesitate to call the police if you see a car that seems to be driven by someone who has been drinking. Even if you are not sure about the driver, report that there is a dangerous driver on the road to protect other innocent drivers and passengers.
With a safe driver, buckle up:
Once you have established that the driver is safe to drive, help them out on this hectic night. Be their second pair of eyes and check that everyone has their seat belt on. Confirm that they are wearing them correctly.
A passengers should not be wearing their seat belt under their arm pit even if they are trying to reach up to the driver to show him or her directions. Remained fastened in the safest way possible- the right way.
Adults and children old enough to be out of booster seats should wear their seat belt across their chest buckled in. They should never wear the shoulder belt behind them, even the the lap belt is still across their lap. The should belt should also never be under the arm pit. Doing either of which can result in being ejected out of the car, hurting other passengers, or crushing organs and bones.
An eight year-old child may look big enough to sit on the car seat alone without a booster seat, but if their knees do not bend at the edge of the seat, they need to sit on a booster seat. Also, a child needs to remain in a booster seat if the shoulder belt touches their neck or is close to their neck.
The booster seat allows the shoulder belt to hit at the right place, similar to where it rests on an adult. If the lap belt is too high on a child’s stomach organs can be crushed as well as the child could be ejected out of the seat.
We hope this week’s blog can help you and your loved ones. Remember to plan tonight and be safe. If you do not have a designated driver, use public transportation, Uber, or Lyft. Happy New Year!
Staff Writer
