Law enforcement is on the lookout this week for pickup drivers who aren’t wearing their seat belts. It’s part of the Buckle Up in Your Truck awareness campaign to increase usage. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert said you are twice as likely to die in a crash in a pickup versus an automobile.
“Because of the higher center of gravity pickup trucks are much more likely to roll over and those crashes tend to be worse. And those accidents can cause serious injury or even death,” said Lambert.
According to the 2019 Louisiana Seat Belt Observation Survey, occupants in a pickup truck are approximately 9% less likely to wear their seat belts. If you are pulled over and not properly restrained, you will be ticketed, and Lambert said it can add up if you’re a repeat offender.
“It used to be a seat belt ticket was maybe a $20 a $25 ticket. Now if you get a ticket and it’s your first offense that’s a $50 fine. If you, do it again it’s a $75 fine,” said Lambert.
Lambert said 17-percent of pickup drivers in the Bayou State fail to wear their seat belt, and those in rural areas in north Louisiana are least likely to buckle up including their passengers.
“Our data shows that young men are least likely to wear their seat belts especially if they’re in a pickup truck. If you’re riding with someone in a pickup truck, make sure you’re buckled up,” said Lambert.
Lambert said pickup truck drivers in Lake Charles have the highest compliance with wearing seat belts. The campaign ends on Sunday.
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