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Operation ABC Cracks Down on Parents Who Don't Buckle Their Kids

23 November 1998

High Risk Holiday Travel Operation ABC Mobilization Cracks Down on Parents Who Don't Buckle Their Kids

    ITASCA, Ill., Nov. 23 -- Traveling on America's highways will
be one of the riskiest activities that people will be doing this holiday
weekend, according to the National Safety Council.  Motor vehicle crashes are
the leading cause of unintentional death in America and with increased travel
this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the risks increase.
    "We can't say it enough -- buckle up," said Jerry Scannell, president of
the National Safety Council.  "The Council estimates that 325 people will be
saved this weekend because they wore a safety belt but if everyone buckles up
we could avoid an additional 163 highway fatalities."
    Overall, the Council estimates 541 people may die and 28,700 may be
injured in traffic crashes over the four-day holiday weekend.
    The Council's Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign is conducting its second
wave this year of the Operation ABC '98 Mobilization, from November 23 to 29.
More than 5,000 law enforcement agencies with tens of thousands of law
enforcement officers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are
participating in the high-visibility crackdown to stop drivers who don't
buckle up children.
    "Unfortunately, tragic stories and statistics don't convince everyone, but
maybe the possibility of getting a ticket will change their mind," said
Scannell. "There is no excuse for not buckling up America's children."
    Traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for children in the
United States.  More than half of the children who die in crashes are
unbelted.  Tragically, half of those children would be alive if they had been
properly restrained.  Every state has a law requiring that children always
ride buckled up.  The May '98 wave of the Operation ABC Mobilization prompted
6 million more people to buckle up.
    "Hopefully, millions more Americans will put on their safety belts and
buckle up children so that they can survive crashes over the holiday weekend
and celebrate Thanksgiving with their loved ones," said Scannell.
    This year's Thanksgiving holiday weekend officially begins at 6:00 p.m. on
Wednesday, November 25, and ends at 11:59 p.m., Sunday, November 29.
    The National Safety Council is a non-profit, membership organization
dedicated to saving lives on-the-job, at home, in the community and on the
road.