SAFETY DESK: Celebrate Labor and Buckle Up

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Labor Day weekend is a time for us to thank all the men and women who work to make our lives better.

Our country was and is built by people who have always been willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

I know firsthand that the work is not always easy, and praise for doing a good job doesn't come along every day.

But I'm proud to say that I work in an industry with people I respect for their willingness to roll their sleeves up to build America.

So during this celebration of our country's workers, I ask that you take control of your safety.

Make the right choices for safety for the right reasons. 

Make safety your first choice for you and your family.

And no matter where you're traveling, remember to BUCKLE UP!

ALLEN MYERS
Lyman-Richey Corporation Safety Director

NEBRASKA SEAT BELT STATS

2.54 inches isn't much.  It's about the length of your pinky finger, the width of your iPhone, and smaller than a floppy disk (remember those?).  The fact is - it's a pretty small distance, yet one that can save your life.   

• In Nebraska, 218 people died and 17,962 were injured in traffic crashes in 2016.
• In Nebraska, one collision occurs every 15 minutes.
• Forty-nine people were injured each day in motor vehicle crashes and one person was killed every 40 hours.
•  Of the 218 traffic fatalities, 181 (83%) were occupants of passenger vehicles.
• Of the 181 traffic fatalities, 63 (35%) were rollovers.
• Of the 181 traffic fatalities, only 63 (35%) were wearing seat belts; 118 (65%) were not wearing seat belts.
• Of the 142  (69%) not wearing seat belts, 53 (37%) were thrown from the vehicle.
• Motor vehicle crashes cost Nebraska over $943,211,800 in 2016 utilizing the 2015 National Safety Council calculable costs of motor vehicle crashes. 
• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among those ages 5-34.
• The observed seat belt use rate in 2016 for drivers and passengers was 83.3%.
• Seat belts - when used - reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45% and light truck occupants by 60%.

Make a commitment to yourself and to your family.  Always wear your seat belt and make it a rule in your vehicle that everyone must be buckled.  
It's the little things that can make a big difference - just 2.54 inches can save a life.

* SOURCE:  Nebraska Office of Highway Safety, 2016