As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is urging drivers and passengers to wear seat belts on every trip. The reminder comes as millions of Americans are expected to travel during one of the busiest times of the year.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 309 people died in traffic crashes nationwide during Thanksgiving weekend in 2023. Of those killed, 44 percent were not wearing seat belts.
Sergeant Marcos Acosta emphasized the importance of safety measures for all travelers. “The Thanksgiving holiday is the start of a special time of year for so many people,” Acosta said. “No matter how long or short your drive, it’s important that drivers and passengers wear a seat belt. We want everyone to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Please, make sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled before you ever turn on the car, including children being in the correct car seats, too.”
California law requires that all children under two years old ride in a rear-facing car seat unless they weigh at least 40 pounds or are at least 40 inches tall. Children under eight must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat until they reach either age eight or a height of four feet nine inches, at which point they can use a booster or safety belt.
Parents and caregivers are advised to keep children in rear- or forward-facing seats as long as possible and use guidelines such as the “Five-Step Test” to determine when their child can safely transition out of a booster seat.
This safety campaign is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For further information regarding this initiative, media inquiries can be directed to the Media Information Bureau.
Those interested in careers with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office can find more information at joinrso.org or call 1-888-Join-RSD.
