Not Wearing Seatbelts Has Lead to Rise in Deaths in Lufkin Area

The number of people dying and/or getting seriously injured as a result of not wearing seatbelts is on the rise.  This is true statewide as well as in the Lufkin District according to a release from the Texas Department of Transportation.

In the Lufkin District, there was a 38-percent increase in fatalities due to unbuckled motorists from 2019 to 2020. In 2019, there were 29 fatal crashes and 51 serious injuries associated with not wearing a seat belt. In 2020, there were 40 fatal crashes and 55 serious injuries associated with not wearing a seat belt. So far in 2021, statistics are trending upward.

Statewide, there was a 16-percent increase in fatalities associated with unbuckled motorists from 2019 to 2020. In 2019, there were 926 fatalities associated with not wearing a seat belt, compared to 2020, when fatalities increased to 1,073.

“Putting on a seat belt takes only a few seconds and it is the best defense we have should a crash occur,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer. “Buckling up reduces the risk of dying in a crash by up to 45-percent for front seat vehicle passengers and up to 60-percent for those riding in a pickup truck.”

With summer driving season in full swing, TxDOT is urging drivers to buckle up. Texas law requires everyone in a vehicle to be properly secured in the front or back seat or face fines and fees up to $200. Children younger than 8 years old must be restrained in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches. If a child isn’t secured, the driver faces fines of up to $250. To have a child safety seat or booster seat properly installed or checked, or for information about obtaining one, contact Melissa.McKnight@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4303.