(FRANKFORT, Ky.) — With millions of Americans expected to travel by car this Thanksgiving, Kentucky transportation officials are reminding drivers that seat belts and distraction-free driving remain critical to preventing holiday tragedies.
The warning comes as data from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety reveals that distracted driving and driver inattention cause more than 40,000 crashes, 11,000 injuries, and 150 deaths in the state each year.
“The most heartbreaking crashes are the ones we know didn’t have to happen,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray. “A seat belt clicked and a phone put away can be the difference between a close call and a tragedy.”
Over the past decade, distracted driving has emerged as one of the leading causes of vehicle crashes nationwide. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns that texting while driving is particularly dangerous because it combines three types of distraction simultaneously: visual, manual, and cognitive. Even brief lapses in attention can dramatically increase crash risk.
The data on seat belt effectiveness is equally stark. According to NHTSA, properly worn seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% for front-seat passengers in cars and 60% for those in pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans. Seat belts work by spreading crash forces across the body’s strongest areas, including the chest, hips, and shoulders.
Despite these proven benefits, nearly half of Kentucky’s motor vehicle fatalities each year involve people who were not wearing seat belts.
Transportation officials encourage drivers to put phones away and ensure all passengers are buckled before heading out for the holiday.
For more information, visit bupdky.com.
