(MSC News)--With more people traveling during the summer months, the Kansas Department of Transportation reminds motorists of the importance of wearing seat belts every time they are in a vehicle.
That's according to a release from KDOT, with Acting Secretary Calvin Reed, in the release, saying that “wearing a seat belt each time you get in any vehicle - whether traveling five blocks or 50 miles - is one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from injury or from dying in a crash.”
Law enforcement agencies across Kansas will be supporting the focus on safety by participating in the national Click It or Ticket enforcement effort, with the seat belt awareness campaign, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, running from May 22 to June 4.
Kansas Highway Patrol Lieutenant Candice Breshears, in the release says, “whether you are a passenger in the rear seat, a driver or an occupant of a pickup truck, or the occupants of a passenger vehicle, wearing a seat belt gives you the greatest chance of survival in a car crash.”
Vehicle safety habits are important for all passengers, including children. However, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows when parents ride without their seat belts, the use of child restraints drops up to 40%.
In 2022 across Kansas, 406 people lost their lives in crashes. More than 58% of those fatalities - 236 vehicle occupants - were not wearing seat belts.
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