Police Departments across Arkansas are reminding drivers to be careful and obey the law while traveling this holiday season.
Officers are on the lookout for those violating seat belt and child passenger safety laws.
" Thanksgiving is the iconic American holiday," said Sgt. Greg Copeland with Fort Smith Police. "Unfortunately, some people seem willing to forego this classic family gathering for the pleasures of an emergency room, or worse, the morgue, simply because they didn't take a second to buckle up before driving."
Sgt. Copeland says both Fort Smith Police and Van Buren Police will be patrolling the area for violators. The Fayetteville Police Department began their holiday "Click or Ticket" campaign today by setting up saturation patrols. A grant through the Arkansas Highway Transportation Department will allow officers to work overtime looking for seat belt violators.
"Seatbelts are the single most important safety device in your vehicle and they have saved countless lives and prevented untold numbers of injuries over the years," said Sgt. Greg Copeland.
In June, Arkansas changed its seat belt law. Drivers who fail to restrain themselves and child passengers will be ticketed according to the law.
"Our seat belt law was changed to a primary law with hopes that we can save more lives, even if it means ticketing a violator," said Colonel Winford E. Philips, Director of Arkansas State Police. "Taking a few seconds to buckle-up can save someone a lifetime of injury and agony."
The Arkansas State Police Highway Safety Office reports 12 people lost their lives in Arkansas traffic crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday last year.
"I urge everyone driving on our state's roads this holiday to drive carefully, don't drive impaired and most important, and buckle up and every trip, night or day," Sgt. Copeland said.
For more information on highway safety during the holidays, click here.
Officers are on the lookout for those violating seat belt and child passenger safety laws.
" Thanksgiving is the iconic American holiday," said Sgt. Greg Copeland with Fort Smith Police. "Unfortunately, some people seem willing to forego this classic family gathering for the pleasures of an emergency room, or worse, the morgue, simply because they didn't take a second to buckle up before driving."
Sgt. Copeland says both Fort Smith Police and Van Buren Police will be patrolling the area for violators. The Fayetteville Police Department began their holiday "Click or Ticket" campaign today by setting up saturation patrols. A grant through the Arkansas Highway Transportation Department will allow officers to work overtime looking for seat belt violators.
"Seatbelts are the single most important safety device in your vehicle and they have saved countless lives and prevented untold numbers of injuries over the years," said Sgt. Greg Copeland.
In June, Arkansas changed its seat belt law. Drivers who fail to restrain themselves and child passengers will be ticketed according to the law.
"Our seat belt law was changed to a primary law with hopes that we can save more lives, even if it means ticketing a violator," said Colonel Winford E. Philips, Director of Arkansas State Police. "Taking a few seconds to buckle-up can save someone a lifetime of injury and agony."
The Arkansas State Police Highway Safety Office reports 12 people lost their lives in Arkansas traffic crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday last year.
"I urge everyone driving on our state's roads this holiday to drive carefully, don't drive impaired and most important, and buckle up and every trip, night or day," Sgt. Copeland said.
For more information on highway safety during the holidays, click here.
