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ISP Concerned About Already-High Number of Fatal Crashes Involving Non-Seat Belt Wearers
A fatal accident late last month in Knox County is resulting in a call by the Illinois State Police for drivers to, once again, not become a statistic.

Illinois State Police Sergeant Tom Burek says counting an accident on Interstate 74 near Knoxville late last month that killed 61-year old Richard Hocker of Alexis, three-quarters of the fatal crashes District Seven Troopers have investigated already this year involved people not wearing a seat belt.

Burek tells WGIL despite all the education troopers do, and all the local and national advertising campaigns, people may still not be getting the message that seat belts save lives. "I think people get in a hurry, and it's something you've just got to remember to do," Burek said. "You've got to make it a habit. It seems like every time we pull someone over, sure, they have a minor excuse, but it could cost their life. It's just something that we as drivers have to make habit. It has to be something we do every time we get behind the wheel, every time passengers get in the car."

Burek says there likely isn't one type of vehicle that's safer than another. And yes, he says air bags do help, but they will never completely replace the need for a seat belt.

He says troopers will continue to make traffic stops for any drivers who aren't buckled up -- something, by the way, emphasized more now along with slowing down as construction season begins in Illinois.
04 11 09 by Newsroom
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