Child safety seats, properly installed, reduce the risk of death by 69 percent for infants and 47 percent for toddlers. But six out of 10 children killed in crashes are completely unrestrained. When drivers are buckled, children riding with them are buckled 87 percent of the time. Parents who don't use seat belts also are more likely to improperly place babies in the front seat, exposing them to serious risk of being injured or killed by an air bag. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs puts young passengers at even greater risk.
Studies show that children riding with an intoxicated driver are even less likely to be buckled up.
If putting more officers out on the roads to enforce the law helps drivers to act responsibly, we'll all have a happier Thanksgiving.