Texas Agency Launches Campaign Urging Seat Belt Use (Video)

AUSTIN — The Texas Department of Transportation this week launched a campaign urging the public to fasten their seat belts, noting that not doing so often leads to tragic consequences.

As an example of such tragedy in not taking the simple step of buckling up, TxDot officials cite the case of Eden Ganzerla, who lost control of her vehicle on Aug. 24, 2016. Her car careened into a retaining wall, with the impact so forceful it broke nearly every bone in her body. Today, she struggles with a traumatic brain injury and speaks with the aid of a computer, officials said.

Ganzerla was not wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash.

“Before the crash, Eden was very outgoing and talkative, living life to the fullest with her animals and friends,” said John Ganzerla, Eden’s father. “Now, she is dependent on her mother and me for even the simplest everyday tasks.”

English radio: http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot/media-center/psas/English_Radio_PSA.wav

Spanish radio: http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot/media-center/psas/Spanish_Radio_PSA.wav

Last year, TxDot officials said, nearly 3,000 people were killed or seriously injured for simply failing to wear their seat belt in the state of Texas. Wearing a seat belt increases a person's chances of surviving a crash by 45 to 60 percent.

“Anytime someone is killed or seriously injured in a crash on a state highway, I take it personally,” TxDOT Austin District Engineer Terry McCoy said in a prepared statement. “It’s our agency’s mission to help everyone get home safely each night, and that’s why we created this campaign.”

Together with Ganzerla and her family, TxDOT Austin District developed a public safety outreach campaign highlighting the young woman's story in dramatically reminding drivers and passengers to buckle up, no matter where or how far they’re traveling. Dubbed “There are Some Things More Confining than a Seat Belt,” the campaign consists of TV and radio public service announcements in both English and Spanish, as well as social media and posters.

TxDOT and the Ganzerla family were joined earlier this week by Austin Police Lt. Blake Johnson and Sgt. Robbie Barrera from the Texas Department of Public Safety to reinforce the idea that there is no excuse for not wearing your seat belt. In fact, it's the law: Texas law requires everyone in a vehicle to be properly buckled up or face fines and court costs up to $200. Children younger than eight must be in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they’re taller than 4 feet 9 inches. If they aren’t properly restrained, the driver faces fines of up to $250, plus court costs.

The series of TxDot-produced videos comprising the newly launched safety campaign, in both English and Spanish, can be viewed below:

En español

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