BEAUFORT CO., SC (WTOC) -
There were six fatal motor vehicle accidents in South Carolina this past weekend, and in every single one of them, the victims were not wearing a seat belt.
Already this year, traffic accidents killed 105 people in South Carolina. If you take out those who couldn't use seat belts, like motorcyclists, more than half just didn't bother to buckle up, and died when they crashed.
On Georgia roads, wrecks already killed nearly 200 people this year, and 37 were without seat belts.
First responders say it's ridiculous and everyone should buckle up.
"I think there's no doubt that you're better off wearing a seat belt. As far as getting thrown from the vehicle if your vehicle flips over -- you know keeping yourself stationed in your seat as the vehicle is rolling around-- the seat belt is definitely going to help you," said Jerry Piccioli, a fire fighter at the Bluffton fire department.
Piccioli has been with the department for eight years and he's seen a lot of accidents.
He says the seat belt is not guaranteed to save a life.
"The seat belt being worn has helped the situation, but there are some accidents where it wouldn't have made a difference. Those are the really bad accidents," he said.
It takes two seconds to put a seat belt on, and state troopers say drivers can either buckle it or get ejected from their car.
Copyright 2013 WTOC. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WTOC, a Raycom Media Station.
