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MPD says ‘Buckle Up’ for holiday travels

MPD says ‘Buckle Up’ for holiday travels

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Statewide Thanksgiving seat-belt mobilization Nov. 25-Dec. 1

ralphhardin@gmail.com You know the drill…

“Click it, or Ticket!”

The Arkansas State Police will be working alongside law enforcement agencies across the state during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday period, looking for motorists who are not using their vehicle safety belts. State troopers, local police officers and sheriff’s deputies are reminding all motorists to “Click It” or risk getting a ticket.

The Thanksgiving holiday is typically one of the more dangerous and deadliest times for highway or local street travel. Whether the trip is across town or across the county, distance makes no difference, safety belts and child restraints save lives.

During the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday period, 341 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes nationwide. Nearly 50 percent of those killed were not buckled-up. “Unfortunately too many people need a reminder and that’s why city, county and state law enforcement officers will be working overtime this Thanksgiving with a strong Click It or Ticket mobilization effort,” said Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative.“Our state troopers will be out in full force to ensure drivers and passengers alike are buckled up as they travel to their destinations.”

An intensified enforcement emphasis will be noticed along Interstate 40 during the most heavily traveled hours of the Thanksgiving holiday and violators will be ticketed.

“The Arkansas State Police will partner with several other states including Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas in an additional enforcement effort designed to protect motorists along the I-40 corridor,” Colonel Bryant stated. “Each state plans to assign a trooper to every 20 mile segment of Interstate 40 during peak traffic hours.”

Arkansas state law requires that all front seat passengers, not just drivers,

In an effort to help everyone arrive at their destinations safely, the Marion Police Department will be taking part in a state wide seat belt mobilization… have a happy and safe holiday season.” — Cpl. Jonathan Lewis, MPD MARION PD

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be buckled up. It requires all children under fifteen years of age to be properly secured in the vehicle.

A child who is less than six years of age and who weighs less than sixty pounds shall be restrained in a child passenger safety seat. If the driver has a restricted license, all passengers

properly buckled up.

Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Research has shown that when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers is reduced by 45 percent and the risk of moderate to serious injury is reduced by 50 percent.

And the Marion Police Department will be doing its part to keep motorists safe over the Thanksgiving holiday.

“As the Holiday Season approaches the number of motorists on the road will be on the rise across the state, said Cpl. Jonathan Lewis of the Marion Police Department. “In an effort to help everyone arrive at their destinations safely, the Marion Police Department will be taking part in a state wide seat belt mobilization.”

Starting on Nov. 25, and going through Dec. 1, the Marion Police Department will be watching for motorists not wearing their seat belts and for children who are not in proper child restraints.

“The police department urges everyone to please wear their seat belts and have a happy and safe holiday season,” said Lewis.

For more information about highway safety during Thanksgiving,

Safety Office at (501) 618-8136. For more on Arkansas’ ongoing Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities, visit www.TZDArkansas. org.

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