A news release from Holmdel Township Police Department, Traffic Safety/Crime Prevention Unit

Too Many Are Not Getting the Message…

• There were 23,382 occupants of passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2009, and 53 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants were NOT wearing seat belts at the time of the fatal crashes. 

• In 2009, 11,593 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes at night (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.). Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) were not wearing seat belts (compared to 44 percent of occupants killed during the daytime hours of 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.)

• Almost half (42 percent) of the 754 passenger vehicle occupants 12 and older killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes were not buckled up.

• Passenger vehicle occupants 13 to 15 years old have the highest percentage (67 percent) of all age groups to be fatally injured and unrestrained in traffic crashes.

• Among young adult passenger vehicle occupants 18 to 34 who were killed in crashes, 63 percent were not buckled up — the second highest percentage for any age group.

• Men are less likely than women to buckle up. This is especially true of young men.
  In 2009, 66 percent of men 18 to 34 killed in passenger vehicles were not wearing their seat belts. 

• Pickup truck drivers and passengers continue to have lower restraint use rates than occupants of other passenger vehicles. In 2009, 68 percent of pickup truck occupants who were killed in traffic crashes were not buckled up.

Seat Belts Save Lives!

• Seat belts, when used by passenger vehicle occupants 5 and older, saved an estimated 12,713 lives in 2009 – more than 72,000 lives from 2005 through 2009 – and 267,890 lives from 1975 through 2009.

• Worn correctly, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45 percent for front-seat passenger car occupants — and by 60 percent for pickup truck, SUV and van occupants.

• In fatal crashes in 2009, 77 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were thrown from their vehicles were killed. However, only 1 percent of crash victims who were buckled up were totally ejected from their vehicles, compared to 31 percent of those who were unbuckled.

• Motorists are 75 percent less likely to be killed in rollover crashes if they are buckled up.

2009 statistics according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration~ Keeping Motorists Safe ~

Holmdel Township Police Department, Traffic Safety/Crime Prevention Unit

If you would like further information or have any questions, you can contact

Sgt. Kenneth McGowan

Traffic Safety/Crime Prevention Supervisor at 732-946-9690 ext. 1731 or kmcgowan@holmdelpolice.org

Or

Ptl. Robert Philhower

Traffic Safety/Crime Prevention Officer

at 732-946-9690 ext. 1733 or rphilhower@holmdelpolice.org