As families and friends prepare to hit the road for the Thanksgiving
holiday, Laguna Beach Police Department reminds drivers and passengers to Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time.
Whether taking a long drive across the country or a shorter trip around town to celebrate, wearing a seat belt is the single most effective thing a person can do to protect themselves in a crash, the police department said.
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2023, 309 people were killed in traffic crashes across the nation, and 44% were not wearing seat belts.
“The Thanksgiving holiday is the start of a special time of year for so many people,” Traffic Sergeant Thomas Spratt 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.”
California law requires all children under two years old to ride in a rear-facing car seat, unless the child is 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall. Once a child reaches these milestones, all children under the age of 8 years old are still required to be secured in a car seat or booster seat, in
the back seat. Children eight and older, or who are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum must be secured by a safety belt.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to keep children in the proper rear or forward-facing seat as long as possible and use the “Five-Step Test” to determine if their child is big enough to safely use a seat belt without a booster seat. The Laguna Beach Police Department also offers car seat
installation training by appointment.
Please contact LBPD at 949-497-0701 for further information.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.