ITD From the Vault: 25 Years Ago
Idahoans are beginning to buckle up and it is saving their lives

A cautionary tale from the 1993 Transporter:

The most recent statewide survey of seat belt use in Idaho shows that Idahoans are buckling up at a rate of over 53 percent, the highest mark ever recorded by the state. For everyone who buckles up routinely and helped contribute to the all-time best mark, here's a pat on the back.

For the other 47 percent, here's a story to remind you of the importance of using your seat belt.

Jim Porter, District 3 Resident Engineer, and two of his children, Kendra, 10, and Heather, 7, were driving Idaho 44 on Sept. 24, 1992, when it happened. As they drove down the highway, a horse suddenly bolted out in the road. As Jim tells it:

"The van was traveling nearly 55 mph when a horse ran out in front of.us. I slammed on the brakes and swerved to the right, missing the horse. However, there were three more horses behind the first. The second horse reared up and the van struck it at about 50 mph."

"The horse hit directly in front of Kendra,who was riding in the front passenger seat. The horse was pulled up on the hood and its head came through the windshield before it was dragged back out and ended up with its back against the front tire.

"Kendra was wearing a lap and shoulder belt. When her shoulder strap caught, her head was just inches from the horse's head. The dashboard collapsed to within six inches of Kendra's seat. Heather was sitting in the middle of the back bench seat wearing a lap belt. Her seat broke loose from the floor and traveled forward about 10 inches. It would have
gone even further but the lap belt attached to the floor stopped it.

"As for the van itself, the table which was between the bench seat and the front seats tore loose and shot forward, destroying the stereo. The passenger door could not be opened, the roof above the sliding door was creased and the van was deemed a total loss.

"The van and the three of us were covered with horse entrails, manure and blood. The extent of our injuries were several pieces of glass in Kendra's knee, and a bruise on my knee from impacting the steering column.

"Our habit of always wearing seat belts saved the lives of my two children."

Jim, who was wearing a lap and shoulder belt, can also attribute his own lack of serious injury to this lifesaving habit.

Editor's 2018 Note: According to the last year-end survey, 83% of us buckle up. However, there are still pockets of the state where the percentage is dismally low. And the one constant through the years - there are still far too many deaths on the road that could have been prevented by simply wearing a seat belt.

Published 09-07-18