UPDATE: 15 of 26 killed in Rutherford County Accidents were not buckled in

Jun 25, 2015 at 09:00 am by bryan


15 of the 26 people who lost their lives from vehicle crashes were not wearing seat belts last year in Rutherford County, said Sheriff Robert Arnold.

A total of 36 people died from traffic crashes in 2004 in Rutherford County. Ten people who died were motorcyclists and pedestrians.

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"Many of the lives of those drivers and passengers could have been saved if they simply wore a seat belt," Sheriff Arnold said. "That's why we are encouraging drivers and passengers to buckle up every time they travel."

The Sheriff's Office is participating with the Governor's Highway Safety Office's SAFE (Seat Belts Are for Everyone) campaign and other law enforcement agencies to educate and encourage drivers and passengers to wear seat belts and to secure children in child safety seats and booster seats.

GHSO Director Kendell Poole said he's excited Tennessee reached its highest seat belt use rate in history at 87.71 percent last year.

"However, historically, we've seen that approximately 50 percent of our fatalities statewide are unrestrained," Director Poole said. "This shows that we still have work to do. Partnering with law enforcement to back up our educational messages is the best way for us to achieve additional increases in seat belt use."

Patrol Capt. Steve Spence said sheriff's deputies conducted surveys in January and February in numerous subdivisions throughout Rutherford County and outside the Johnson Controls industrial plant to determine how many people wore seat belts.

"The results showed that our average seat belt usage rate was at 67 percent, which is well below the statewide average of 87.7 percent," Capt. Spence said.

To spread the message, sheriff's deputies sent letters and brochures to residents of the subdivisions and Johnson Controls employees surveyed emphasizing seat belts saving lives.

Deputies surveyed the same subdivisions and Johnson Controls in June, finding seat belt use climbed to 81 percent, a 14 percent increase from the first survey.

Besides the survey, sheriff's deputies continue to educate citizens about seat belts saving lives.

GHSO's Seat Belt Convincer showing riders the force generated during a 5- to 7-mph crash was demonstrated at every Wal-Mart in the county and at community events. They also issued warning citations and distributed brochures about seat belts saving lives.

"We challenge you to click it every time you get in your vehicles," Capt. Spence said. "Remember to have your passengers buckle up as well."

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