ROADSIDE CHAT – PROTECT MY PRECIOUS, BUCKLE UP EVERY TRIP
On the birthday of Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien, we recall one of his most famous lines. His monster Gollum said of the Ring, “It is mine, I tell you. My own. My precious,” and his protection of it extended his life far beyond usual limits. In the natural world, protecting our most precious – family and friends whose lives we treasure – can be accomplished with the simple act of ensuring that everyone in our vehicle wears a seatbelt.
In Iowa, the importance of seatbelt use cannot be overstated. As we close out 2024, year-to-date Iowa DOT fatality statistics confirm that 43% of traffic fatalities were not wearing their seatbelts, resulting in 106 lives lost in crashes. This statistic highlights the grim reality that nearly half of the fatalities on the roads in our state could potentially have been prevented with proper seatbelt use.
Despite the perception that seatbelt use is universal, data indicates otherwise. A survey by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) revealed that while 88% of Iowans reported always buckling up in the front seat, only 67% consistently do so in the back seat.
These sobering facts serve as a powerful reminder that no matter where you're seated in the vehicle, or the length of your journey, always buckle up and ensure your passengers do the same. Nothing says more about how you’re protecting those you hold dear in a vehicle. If you know a friend or a family member who does not buckle up, talk to them about changing their habits. Seatbelts save lives, my precious.
In the first few days of 2025 in Iowa, no people have been killed in traffic crashes. In Iowa in 2024, there were 351 traffic-related deaths. 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