Critical Days of Summer; Drive safe-buckle up Published July 29, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Vctoria Doe 341st Missile Wing Plans MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Seat belts are the single most effective traffic safety device for preventing death and injury, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nearly 40,000 people die each year in car accidents. Safety belts can prevent death in half of these accidents. Every member of Air Force Global Strike Command should show "Excellence in all we do" by ensuring they buckle up every time they get in a vehicle. There are three types of collisions that happen in a crash: the vehicle collision, the human collision and organs. A car going 15 mph can stop in the first tenth of a second, but the occupant keeps traveling at the same rate until something stops them- the steering wheel, dashboard, other occupants or windshield- if they're not wearing a safety belt. A crash at 30 mph is four times as hard as at 15 mph; the same impact felt from falling three stories. A properly worn safety belt keeps that second collision- the human collision-from happening. What's Your Reason For Not Wearing One? "I'm only going to the shopping center." Actually, this is the best time to wear a safety belt, 80 percent of traffic fatalities occur within 25 miles of home and under 40 miles an hour. "I won't be in an accident: I'm a good driver." Your good driving record will certainly help you avoid accidents, but even if you're a good driver, a bad driver may still hit you. "I'll just brace myself." Even if you had the split-second timing to do this, the force of the impact would shatter the arm or leg you use to brace yourself. "I'm afraid the belt will trap me in the car." Statistically, the best place to be during an accident is in your car. If you're thrown out of the car, you're 25 times more likely to die. If you need to get out of the car in a hurry - as in the extremely tiny percent of accidents involving fire or submergence - you can get out a lot faster if you haven't been knocked unconscious inside your car. "They're uncomfortable." Most seat belts give when you move - a device locks them in place only when the car stops suddenly. You can put a little bit of slack in most belts simply by pulling on the shoulder strap. Others come with comfort clips, which hold the belt in a slightly slackened position. If the belt won't fit around you, you can get a belt extender at most car dealerships. "I don't need a belt - I've got an airbag." An air bag increases the effectiveness of a safety belt by 40 percent, but air bags were never meant to be used in place of safety belts, since they don't protect against side impacts at all. Seat belt use on Malmstrom Air Force Base is mandatory. The 34st Missile Wing Command Center, 341 Mission Support Group Command Center, and 341 Mission Support Group CD are the base driving privilege authorities and will suspend driving privileges for violators of this policy. State Law, DODI 16055.4, AFI 91-207 and 341 MWMAN 24-301 mandates the use of seatbelts. As stated in AFI 91-207: "The operator of a motor vehicle is responsible for ensuring that all vehicle occupants properly use appropriate restraint devices while the vehicle is in motion. Operators are directly responsible for ensuring that all passengers comply with this policy prior to the vehicle being placed in motion. Children will be properly secured in a child safety seat or adapted seatbelt configuration as appropriate." Col. Anthony Cotton, 341st Missile Wing Commander, has issued the following guidance for violation of seat belt policy: Violators will have their base driving privileges suspended in accordance with the following guidelines: First Violation Base driving privileges suspended for 30 days Second Violation Base driving privileges suspended for 60 days Third Violation Base driving privileges suspended for 120 days A task force comprised of Security Forces and Wing Safety will conduct random checks around the base to ensure compliance with the vehicle restraint policy. Seatbelts are too effective to ignore, take the time to buckle up; it's the law, it's your life.