Tuesday, January 18, 2011

More CMV Drivers are Buckling Up

Professional drivers are leading by example. The buckle-up rate for Missouri CMV drivers is up to 80.6 percent while 76 percent of other drivers make it click.

Tanker, bus, double trailer, box and flat trailer haulers are the shining stars in the seat belt survey. Dump truck drivers' still have a lot of clicking to do – their seat belt usage was the lowest at 57.5 percent.

Federal motor carrier regulations make failure to use a seat belt a primary enforcement offense - meaning that an officer can pull a driver over for no other reason than the lack of belt use. A seat belt citation can be costly and affect both drivers' and companies' federal safety scores.

Commercial motor vehicle drivers spend entire work days behind the wheel. With so much time spent in their vehicle, it's important that they protect themselves by buckling up. Seven out of 10 Missourians killed in traffic crashes are unbuckled.

The safest place for you to be in a crash is behind a buckled safety belt. Besides keeping you from smashing around the cab – or ejecting and being crushed – during a crash, it keeps you in a position to possibly regain control and avoid secondary collisions - so even more travelers get to Arrive Alive.

Safety is primary. So is the seat belt regulation for commercial drivers. Buckle up and Arrive Alive.