DPS sends seatbelt safety message after two die in weekend crash

It's accidents like this that remind us how the simple act of putting on a seat belt can save a life. That's why DPS is stressing to wear your seat belt and wear it right.

"The lap should go across our hips and the shoulder harness should go across our chest plate," said Corporal John Gonzalez, Texas Department of Public Safety.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there was one vehicle crash every 74 seconds statewide in 2009. And the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration says every year seatbelts save more than 13,000 lives.

"The law says now anybody in the backseat or front seat have to be secured by at least a seatbelt system. If they are a child under the age of 8 to 5 they must be in high back booster or low back booster. And a child under the age of 5 must be in some kind of safety child restraint system," said Gonzalez.

Saturday, Victor Briones, 58, and his son Elias Briones, 8, were not wear seatbelts when their car flipped their just outside of New Deal, they were pronounced dead at the scene.

"Several that we have had, have shown people weren't buckled in, including the driver in this case," said Gonzalez.

In 2009 TXDOT says 976 died in a traffic accident from not wearing their seatbelt and 796,287 wore their seatbelts were not injured.

"If you do flip in an upright position and the car is still going forward you may have to stop it and control it sometime. And if you're out of the vehicle the car is going to do whatever it is going to do," said Gonzalez.

That's why law enforcement is telling others to click it or ticket. Because wearing a seatbelt could end up saving a life.

"Any time you can provide any protection for you and your children in a car crash, absolutely. The seatbelt is designed to bear your weight and to keep you inside the vehicle," said Gonzalez.

DPS says if you get caught not wearing your seatbelt you face up to a $250 fine. And if a child is unrestrained you could end up losing points on your license.

Source : http://www.kcbd.com/story/14509892/dps-sends-seatbelt-safety-message-after-two-die-in-weekend-crash