Click It Or Ticket Checkpoints In Effect
By: Amy Mearkle
Updated: May 25, 2010
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA -- Drivers around the state are being reminded to buckle up. The state's annual "Click It Or Ticket" campaign kicked off Monday, May 24th, with checkpoints in effect across the state.
According to PennDOT, 451 people died in unbelted crashes in the state in 2009, which is down from 567 in 2008, and the lowest number of fatalities since the department started keeping track in 1985.
The campaign runs through June 13th.
(Copyright 2010 by VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions)
Comments
My Daughter hit a Coal Truck at 55 MPH that she was trying to pass, it made a left turn without signaling, her car was totaled, no seat belt but she did have airbags, she was badly bruised but no broken bones or life threatening injuries.
The only person I personally know who had an accident and wore a seatbelt died. these traffic safety people also like to always use race car accidents as an example of seat belt safety, interestingly the 5 point restraint system used in most race cars as well as the roll cage that allows them to walk away from 200 MPH crashes is illegal for street use. WHY? I don't know.
If you weld your doors shut and install a roll cage and effective restraint system you cannot drive your car on the road. It's the law. Stupid law but the law none the less.
The only person I personally know who had an accident and wore a seatbelt died. these traffic safety people also like to always use race car accidents as an example of seat belt safety, interestingly the 5 point restraint system used in most race cars as well as the roll cage that allows them to walk away from 200 MPH crashes is illegal for street use. WHY? I don't know.
If you weld your doors shut and install a roll cage and effective restraint system you cannot drive your car on the road. It's the law. Stupid law but the law none the less.
Douglas S.
May 26, 2010 at 12:06 am
I personally know of 4 people who have had accidents, my Dad, my Grandfather, my wife's Aunt, and my Oldest Daughter.
My Dad was hit by a driver who ran a Red light, hit in the driver side door by a car going about 55 MPH. His door crushed in and over part of the driver's seat, if he would have been wearing his seat belt he probably would have been crushed to death, he walked away with a few bruises.
My Grandfather had a very similar accident, hit from the side while stopped at a red light by a car traveling too fast to make the turn into the road he was on, his car was rolled over 1 and a half times coming to rest on it's roof. no seatbelt and he crawled out a window and walked away with a few bruises.
My wife's Aunt was in a friend's car, in the back, wearing her seat belt. The driver ran a red light and was hit on her side of the car by a vehicle going about 45 MPH. My wife's Aunt died at the scene from internal injuries.
My Dad was hit by a driver who ran a Red light, hit in the driver side door by a car going about 55 MPH. His door crushed in and over part of the driver's seat, if he would have been wearing his seat belt he probably would have been crushed to death, he walked away with a few bruises.
My Grandfather had a very similar accident, hit from the side while stopped at a red light by a car traveling too fast to make the turn into the road he was on, his car was rolled over 1 and a half times coming to rest on it's roof. no seatbelt and he crawled out a window and walked away with a few bruises.
My wife's Aunt was in a friend's car, in the back, wearing her seat belt. The driver ran a red light and was hit on her side of the car by a vehicle going about 45 MPH. My wife's Aunt died at the scene from internal injuries.
Douglas S.
May 25, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Douglas,
I can see where you got the figures stated in your comment, but there is no information stating the types of crashes which occurred that resulted in fatalities. This would mean that it's a possibility that the ones not wearing a seat belt were involved in less serious accidents (and ended up, well, dead). Can't really make a connection between the two without more information. I could understand if the impacts in each situation were the same, but we don't know that.
I can see where you got the figures stated in your comment, but there is no information stating the types of crashes which occurred that resulted in fatalities. This would mean that it's a possibility that the ones not wearing a seat belt were involved in less serious accidents (and ended up, well, dead). Can't really make a connection between the two without more information. I could understand if the impacts in each situation were the same, but we don't know that.
Gina G.
May 25, 2010 at 4:59 pm
BTW, the below info was taken from:
http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/home/hotatdot.shtml#Q21
http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/home/hotatdot.shtml#Q21
Douglas S.
May 25, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Some info from the PennDot site:
"The number of fatalities on Pennsylvania highways dropped to 1,256 in 2009, the lowest number since recordkeeping began in 1928. The previous low was 1,328 in 1944." and "Unrestrained fatalities decreased from 567 in 2008 to 451 in 2009."
We can conclude from this 2 things, first the above report is wrong, they have been keeping records since 1928, not 1985.
And second, 805 people died while wearing seatbelts as opposed to 451 who died while not wearing them, would that not mean you are TWICE as likely to die in a car accident if you are wearing a seatbelt?
I'd rather go with the odds and not wear one, thank you.
"The number of fatalities on Pennsylvania highways dropped to 1,256 in 2009, the lowest number since recordkeeping began in 1928. The previous low was 1,328 in 1944." and "Unrestrained fatalities decreased from 567 in 2008 to 451 in 2009."
We can conclude from this 2 things, first the above report is wrong, they have been keeping records since 1928, not 1985.
And second, 805 people died while wearing seatbelts as opposed to 451 who died while not wearing them, would that not mean you are TWICE as likely to die in a car accident if you are wearing a seatbelt?
I'd rather go with the odds and not wear one, thank you.
Douglas S.
May 25, 2010 at 1:26 pm
