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Va. | State Police - Fatalities Make the Case for Buckling Up

Unfortunately, that is not uncommon, according to Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. E. D. Malone.

 Last year, Henry County was one of the top four areas in the state in terms of fatalities “as a result of people being unbelted,” Malone said. According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, which compiles crash data, there were a total of 68 unbelted crashes, eight deaths and 70 injuries in Henry County last year. Statewide, there were 5,464 unbelted crashes, 370 deaths and 4,342 injuries in 2010. In general terms and based on his experiences when investigating crashes,

Malone said that often people who do not wear seat belts say they don’t like to wear them. Getting drivers and passengers to buckle up is the main objective of strategies aimed at combating fatalities, such as patrols of highways and selective enforcement in certain areas, Malone said. Driving intoxicated, texting or using cell phones, and driver inattention also are contributing factors in crashes, he added. Although none of the recent accidents occurred in Martinsville, Police Chief Mike Rogers said three families are suffering because of the losses.

Full article; http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com

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