Don't Become a Holiday Traffic Statistic

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more than 1,700 fatalities and 840,000 injuries yearly due to vehicle crashes off public highways.

Seatbelts are the single most effective protection in a vehicle crash, cutting the risk of injuries in half, according to the National Safety Council.

If people are going out to celebrate the new year, they should buckle up, say authorities.

In our area most recently, the day after Thanksgiving,  after the car they were traveling in crashed into a tree on Lawyers Hill Road. Neither was wearing a seatbelt, according to police.

In another holiday weekend tragedy,  the day before Memorial Day, on May 29, when her vehicle crashed on MD Route 32; police said she was not wearing her seatbelt.

Learn more about safety belt myths and facts and check out the map to see where people have died in vehicle-involved incidents around Elkridge.