 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Richmond, VA May 1, 2007 - Nearly 50% of the motor vehicle fatalities in Virginia are the result of being unrestrained according to Mary Ann Rayment, State Occupant Protection Coordinator with DMV: The Virginia Highway Safety Office and special consultant to the Virginia Department for the Aging's GrandDriver public health initiative. The proper use of occupant safety devices, Rayment says, is critical to staying safe behind the wheel and there are three key things drivers can do to help maintain their own safety as well as the safety of their passengers.
Follow the "10-inch Rule". Make sure there is at least 10 inches between the center of the air bag and the center of the chest. Remember: air bags are designed to be used WITH seat belts. Keep children safe. With so many grandparents taking care of grandchildren, Rayment observes, it's important that mature drivers follow recent legislation to keep their loved ones safe. Beginning July 1, 2007, all children under the age of eight years must be in a booster seat. "The safest place in a vehicle for children to sit is properly restrained in the back seat." For more information about aging and driving including "Staying Safe Tips," "Recognizing the Signs," "Self-Assessment Tools," and local resources, visit www.GrandDriver.net. # # # |
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Wear seat belts. The primary function of the seat belt is to keep occupants from being ejected. A person is four times more likely to die from an ejection than if belted and kept inside the vehicle. The lap belt should fit across the upper thighs and not ride on the stomach. The shoulder part of the belt should fit across the center of the chest across the middle of the shoulder and not cut into the neck or face.
