OUR VIEW: Always buckle up

Monday’s accident has left a surreal feeling looming over campus and thoughts of loved ones

seem slightly nearer to our hearts as we mourn the loss of nine of our fellow Aggies.

News reports continue to flood local papers and speculations of whether or not the passengers in the van were wearing seat belts have come near the forefront of several articles. In times like this, it hurts to question “what if,” but whether seat belts were used or not in this tragedy, we want to remind the USU community to always buckle up.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 80 percent of Americans used seat belts in 2004. Yet in that same year, 42,800 people died on the nation’s highways, 56 percent of which weren’t wearing a seat belt.

For most of us, the next step after getting into a car is to reach around and grab the seat beat to buckle up, however, there are always times when we inevitably forget – joking around with friends, running late to class, making a short 5-minute trip to the store – we’ve all done it. Yet, as we are feeling the effects of Monday’s tragedy, there is a realization that it takes only once of not buckling up to change life completely.

Many students will be traveling this weekend, and buckling up can make sure everyone returns in one piece on Monday.