Message Monday - Presidents' Day Seat Belt Sale! Use one, Save One
The third Monday in February was set as “Presidents’ Day” by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971. We’re not sure when the switch happened, but now, this holiday seems to be less about celebrating our nation’s leaders and more about getting a good deal on furniture or electronics.
Not that we’re against good deals. One of the best deals you’re going to get doesn’t cost you any additional money and actually comes as standard equipment with every vehicle sold in America – the seat belt. In the U.S., seat belts have been mandatory equipment in passenger vehicles sine the 1968 model year. That’s 52+ years of saving lives simply by clicking a belt around your body.
Even though seat belts have been around a long time, people still question their effectiveness. Here’s a good resource to answer some of those questions - https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts
For 2020, there have been 25 fatalities reported. That’s an increase of two since last Monday. As of Feb. 14, 2020, the 2019 fatality count stands at 337. This is subject to change as law enforcement reports are completed. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf