MONROE -- Two unrelated crashes kill two people this weekend and police say both victims were not wearing their seat belts.
After those fatal crashes, State Troopers are reminding everyone how buckling up can make a life or death difference.
"It's the smartest thing you can do when you get inside a vehicle, first thing is to put your seat belt on," said Trooper Albert Paxton with Troop F.
Paxton speaks at least twice a week to schools and other classes on seat belt safety. He says he's seen the difference wearing a seat belt can make first hand.
"People wearing their seat belt turned out to be fine and people not wearing their seat belt, were killed, literally," he said. "The three that had it on, didn't even go to the hospital, and the one that didn't broke their neck and died. That's a hard thing to tell the family."
Troopers say your chances of surviving a crash are 60 to 70 percent higher when you have your seat belt on. Many cars are even designed to crumple around the seats to better protect those inside.
"Most crashes, when someone's not wearing a seat belt, it usually turns into a fatal or serious injury crash," Paxton said.
He says everyone in the vehicle needs to buckle up, and make sure seat belts are worn the right way.
"You need to make sure everyone has it on no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle," Paxton said. "The shoulder strap needs to go over the collar bone and breast plate, and the belt strap is on the hip bone, not directly over the stomach."
And troopers say they don't encourage people to fall for myths or stories about seat belts being dangerous to wear.
"I know what I've seen and I know that every time I get in a car I put a seat belt on because I know what happens when you don't," Paxton said.
A tip from troopers -- make buckling up a habit, even for short trips.
And the back seat is no exception.
"We've seen rollover accidents with vans and SUVs with children in the back and end up getting killed not wearing a seat belt. The other seats are not gonna stop it," he said.
In addition to safety reasons, wearing seat belts can also save you hundreds of dollars if you get pulled over -- since it's a traffic offense.
If you're unsure of how to properly install a child seat, troopers ask you to call their office for help at (318) 345-0000 or clicking here.
After those fatal crashes, State Troopers are reminding everyone how buckling up can make a life or death difference.
"It's the smartest thing you can do when you get inside a vehicle, first thing is to put your seat belt on," said Trooper Albert Paxton with Troop F.
Paxton speaks at least twice a week to schools and other classes on seat belt safety. He says he's seen the difference wearing a seat belt can make first hand.
"People wearing their seat belt turned out to be fine and people not wearing their seat belt, were killed, literally," he said. "The three that had it on, didn't even go to the hospital, and the one that didn't broke their neck and died. That's a hard thing to tell the family."
Troopers say your chances of surviving a crash are 60 to 70 percent higher when you have your seat belt on. Many cars are even designed to crumple around the seats to better protect those inside.
"Most crashes, when someone's not wearing a seat belt, it usually turns into a fatal or serious injury crash," Paxton said.
He says everyone in the vehicle needs to buckle up, and make sure seat belts are worn the right way.
"You need to make sure everyone has it on no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle," Paxton said. "The shoulder strap needs to go over the collar bone and breast plate, and the belt strap is on the hip bone, not directly over the stomach."
And troopers say they don't encourage people to fall for myths or stories about seat belts being dangerous to wear.
"I know what I've seen and I know that every time I get in a car I put a seat belt on because I know what happens when you don't," Paxton said.
A tip from troopers -- make buckling up a habit, even for short trips.
And the back seat is no exception.
"We've seen rollover accidents with vans and SUVs with children in the back and end up getting killed not wearing a seat belt. The other seats are not gonna stop it," he said.
In addition to safety reasons, wearing seat belts can also save you hundreds of dollars if you get pulled over -- since it's a traffic offense.
If you're unsure of how to properly install a child seat, troopers ask you to call their office for help at (318) 345-0000 or clicking here.
