North Platte Police Department
January 21st through January 28th is National Passenger Safety Week. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Statistics from 2020 show that 6,275 passengers were killed in vehicle crashes. Twenty-four percent of deaths in cars, SUVs, pickups, vans and minivans were passengers. Fifty-six percent of teenage passengers died in crashes in which cars were driven by other teenagers and 15% of passengers killed in crashes, of all ages, occurred when a teenager was driving.
Passengers can make a difference by stopping friends and loved ones from driving drugged, drunk or distracted whenever possible and refusing to ride with anyone who is drugged, drunk or distracted. Drivers can make a difference by ensuring their passengers are properly restrained. Additional passenger safety information can be found at nationalpassengersafety.org.