Seatbelt awareness: how a single moment in time can change your life
THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — There’s no shame in forgetting to do something. However, forgetting to wear a seat belt — that can be a life-threatening decision.
In 2024, 22,713 vehicle occupants were killed. Of those, 50% were not wearing seat belts, based on known seat belt use, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Here in Riverside County, a traffic collision-related death occurs every 32 hours. Of which, 1,200 fatalities were reported in a single year as a direct result of individuals not wearing seat belts, according to the Riverside County Sheriff.
Nobody thinks a crash will happen to them until it does. When putting your safety in the hands of other drivers, that moment can happen at any time.
Palm Desert resident Andrew Sanchez learned the consequences of non-compliance firsthand after suffering injuries as an unrestrained passenger in a motor vehicle accident.
“I was a passenger and I wasn’t wearing a seat belt and we got in an accident and my head went face first into the dashboard. I ended up in the hospital so I regret not wearing my seatbelt,” Sanchez said.
David Torres, public information officer for CHP Indio, frequently responds to crash scenes where proper restraints could have altered outcomes.
“I preach wearing your seatbelt because I know that it can save your life. When they don’t wear seat belt, it’s a devastating scene for us,” Torres said.
Other area residents emphasized that seat belt use extends beyond personal safety to shared responsibility among passengers. Carrick Kennedy, a resident of Palm Desert, highlighted the emotional burden drivers and passengers face following serious crashes.
“you get in a car accident, you know, and somebody else ain’t wearing their seat belt… You’ll feel more guilty if something happens. They fly out the car windshield or what have you… It’s all about accountability,” Kennedy said.
Although California’s seat belt compliance rate remains above the national average, law enforcement officials note that failure to buckle up continues to cause preventable deaths across the region.
Additionally, Torres emphasized the importance of properly installing children’s car seats. He tells News Channel 3 if anyone is worried about doing it wrong, they can head over to California Highway Patrol in Indio for a free car seat installation.
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