Every year, the Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel times. Millions of Americans hit the roads to spend time with family and friends.

Unfortunately, more vehicles on the road means the potential for more crashes. The Click It or Ticket campaign combines increased awareness with aggressive enforcement to reach as many Americans as possible.

The key message of the effort is that wearing a seat belt is the single most effective way to save your life and the lives of your loved ones while on the road this Thanksgiving.

The statistics are really troubling, almost half of the passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes are not wearing their seat belts. And during this busy time on our highways, we see way too many preventable fatalities in crashes.

During the 2013 Thanksgiving holiday period (6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27, to 5:59 a.m. on Monday, December 2), there were 301 passenger vehicle occupants killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes nationwide. Fifty-eight percent of those killed were NOT wearing seat belts.

These tragic crashes could have turned out differently. NHTSA research indicates that proper seat belt use reduces the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate to serious injury by 50 percent. In 2013, seat belts saved the lives of 12,584 passenger vehicle occupants. If seat belt use had been at 100 percent, an additional 2,800 people would still be alive this Thanksgiving.

Lundy Law would like to recommend the following safety tips:

• Driving is a complex task, requiring a motorist’s full attention. Anything that diverts the driver’s eyes or attention from the roadway, even for 1-2 seconds, could result in tragedy. Stay off your phone!
• The law is explicit: Driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or more is illegal; but even with a lower BAC, a driver may be a hazard and taken to jail.
• Prepare for potential inclement weather by leaving early, allowing plenty of time to get to where you’re going. Make sure your gas tank is full. Always leave ample distance between your vehicle and the one ahead.
• Inspect your seatbelt – and your child’s car seat – for proper fit. In order to be effective, a seatbelt must be worn correctly.
• Carry items in your vehicle that may prove useful in the event of an emergency or if you get stranded, including: snow shovel, broom, ice scraper, jumper cables, flashlight, flares/emergency markers, blankets, mobile phone with charger, water, food, and any necessary medicine.
• If you become stranded, don’t run your vehicle with the windows up or in an enclosed space for an extended period of time to avoid asphyxiation from carbon monoxide poisoning. If you must run your vehicle, clear the exhaust pipe of any snow and run it only sporadically – just long enough to stay warm.

Lundy Law would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. If you or someone that you love are ever involved in an accident this holiday season, we urge you to fill out our contact form to receive exceptional legal assistance. For more information about traveling safely during Thanksgiving, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.