CMV Seatbelt Safety:

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has released a new public service announcement (PSA) for television and radio for the Be Ready. Be Buckled. campaign, featuring NASCAR legend Rusty Wallace, to combat low safety belt use among the nation's Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers.

Since his retirement in 2005, Wallace has moved from the track to the broadcasting booth as an analyst for ESPN and ABC Sports. As a recognizable icon in the racing industry, Wallace has lent his distinction to the DOT to encourage the use of safety belts by commercial motor vehicle drivers. In the message, Wallace tells drivers that “Safety is a professional driver’s responsibility.”

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), this ad reminds truckers that, as professional drivers, they are responsible for handling their vehicles and themselves in the safest manner possible. Mr. Wallace's personal commitment to promoting public safety is helping save lives on America's highways.

The 2006 CMV driver safety belt usage study found that only 59 percent of CMV drivers wear safety belts compared to 81 percent of passenger vehicle drivers. In accordance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), a CMV which has a seat belt assembly installed at the driver's seat shall not be driven unless the driver has properly restrained himself/herself with the seat belt assembly. FMCSA safety regulations require all commercial motor vehicle drivers to use proper restraints, but in 2006, 45 percent of truckers killed in a crash were not wearing safety belts. The following are additional CMV crash statistics:

	Of the 188 drivers killed who were ejected from their vehicles, almost 80% were not wearing safety belts.
	52% of truck-occupant-fatalities in large trucks involve a rollover.
	About 23,000 large truck occupants suffered nonfatal injuries in crashes; of these, 4,000 were seriously injured.
	73% of truck drivers killed, who were not wearing a safety belt, were involved in single vehicle crashes.

Many drivers do not choose to buckle up because they feel it is uncomfortable or too restricting. However, correctly adjusting the seat once at the beginning of each work day as well as adjusting the safety belt at the beginning of each trip is a quick and easy way to prevent discomfort. This is also very important in short trips, because crashes occur when you least expect it, and many times at low speeds. It only takes about three seconds to buckle up, and a driver could buckle 20 times a day and only spend one minute! That one minute could make the difference between life and death.

There are many reasons why safety belts are so effective in reducing injuries and fatalities for large trucks. According to the FMCSA:

	Safety belts, especially lap/shoulder belts, spread the stress and impact forces of a crash along the stronger and broader areas of the body, such as the hips and shoulders, thereby limiting injuries.
	Safety belts prevent serious injuries and fatalities by minimizing the possibility of truck occupants striking the steering wheel, shirt lever, windshield, dashboard, side doors and windows, roof, and other occupants.
	In a crash, a safety belt keeps the driver in place behind the steering wheel and in control of the vehicle, thereby avoiding or reducing the consequences of an accident.
	Safety belts can keep you from being knocked unconscious, improving your chances of escape. Fire or submersion occurs in less than five percent of fatal large truck crashes.
	In a frontal collision occurring at 30 mph, an unbelted person continues to move forward at 30 mph causing him/her to hit the windshield at about 30 mph. This is the same velocity a person falling from the top of a three-story building would experience upon impact with the ground!

FMCSA’s mission is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks, and is dedicated to increasing safety belt use among commercial motor vehicle drivers. Through initiatives like Be Ready. Be Buckled., and with the help of supporters like Wallace, drivers will hear the important message: “…professional truck drivers need to buckle up, every trip, every time. Remember, you’re the one who drives… for a living.”

For more information regarding FMCSA and the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Belt Program visit www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safetybelt or contact Melissa Mazzella DeLaney at (202) 366-2309.

All Print, Video, Audio versions of the PSA are available for download.

Top 10 Reasons CMV Drivers Should Always Buckle Up

10. If buckled up you can be sure of staying at the wheel and in control of the vehicle. This increases your ability to properly react to any situation and pose less of a threat to other drivers.
9. The extra equipment in commercial vehicles such as radios, tachometers and onboard computers can contribute to your chances of being injured during a crash if you are not properly buckled up.
8. It's a federal and state law.
7. Good drivers usually do not cause collisions, but they are often involved in crashes caused by other drivers. If you are in a crash, safety belt use can save your life and prevent long-term disability.
6. You drive more miles than the average person and are on duty for long periods of time. Driving for extended periods of time or in heavy traffic can be stressful and your awareness can be reduced. Safety belt use keeps you in a better position to stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
5. You are on the road at night when you are most likely to encounter impaired drivers. You must be in good control of your vehicle at all times.
4. The weight of your vehicle is ten times the weight of passenger cars and trucks. You must maintain control of your vehicle to ensure defensive driving measures.
3. You are four times more likely to be killed if you're ejected from a vehicle and fourteen times as likely to receive a spinal cord injury. Safety belts prevent you from going through the windshield.
2. When you wear your safety belt, your chances of being injured or killed are reduced by up to 50 percent.
1. And the reason you should always Buckle Up…
   You are someone's son, daughter, mom, dad, husband, wife, or friend…The life you save may be your own!