We’re also following how new federal funding could help make local communities safer and hearing from a local blind woman who says an Uber driver intentionally abandoned her at the wrong location. Plus, we’re one-on-one with a PhD student at UNC who was involved in a story that was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist.

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According to a recent Edmunds used vehicle report, demand for used cars is dropping and so are their values as the new-car market rebounds from pandemic-induced shortages. T 

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All assets associated with the tag: seat belt

Seat belt Coverage

A Fayetteville teacher credits a seatbelt with saving her life in 2021.



Fayetteville teacher credits a seatbelt with saving her life

North Carolina's Memorial Day Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign begins on Monday for state law enforcement with a renewed emphasis on seatbelt enforcement for drivers and passengers. 

NC's Click It or Ticket campaign begins Monday ahead of holiday weekend

North Carolina State Highway Patrol

Raleigh police and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol are out in force this week, helping to make sure that all of the vehicles on the roads make it safely to holiday destinations.

GROUP, TOGETHER WE STAND AND SEE HOW THEY SAY THIS VERDICT DEFINES THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD . >>> TRAVEL EXPERTS SAY THE NEXT THREE HOURS WILL BE THE WORST TIME TO TRAVEL HEADING INTO THANKSGIVING SO IF YOU ARE GETTING READY TO DRIVE OR BOARD A FLIGHT, BE PATIENT. NOW, OUR TEAM OF REPORTERS HAS A LIVE LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE HEADING INTO. FIRST, METEOROLOGIST MIKE MAZE IS HERE WITH A LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS YOU COULD BE TRAVELING INTO  TODAY AND TOMORROW. BACK >>> THE WEATHER WILL BE AN ISSUE. TOMORROW NIGHT IT MAY BE AN ISSUE DUE TO THE COLD FRONT TO THE NORTH AND WEST. WE CAN THANK HIGH PRESSURE FOR THE GOOD WEATHER AND THE COLD START. WE WOKE UP TO 24 AND HAD A HIGH OF 54. TRAVEL IS A DIFFERENT STORY TO THE WEST. CLOUDS AND RAIN OR BUILDING THAT WILL MAKE ITS WAY HERE TOMORROW NIGHT BUT AHEAD OF THAT WE HAVE A SOUTHWEST WIND WARMING A SUB THANKSGIVING DAY LOOKING DELIGHTFUL TOMORROW. 61 AND RALEIGH. ON THE COAST IT'S IN THE 50s AND 60s AND THE MOUNTAINS ARE LOOKING BAD. 56 IN BOONE. LOCALLY FOR THE DAY TOMORROW IT WILL BE A COLD START AND WE EXPECT 29 AND 32 BY 8:00. 57 8:00 IN THE HIGH WILL BE A 61 WITH THE SOUTHWEST WIND. ALSO AS THE FRONT CONTINUES TO COME IN, RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST. COMING UP, I WILL SHOW YOU HOW THE RAIN ARRIVES AND DEPARTS AND IF IT WILL IMPACT FRIDAY IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON TRAVELING THEN. >>> THIS CLEAR WEATHER IS HELPING ON THE ROADS. MARK IS BACK IN THE LIFE CENTER WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT HOLIDAY TRAFFIC. >> CAN YOU IMAGINE IF THERE WAS RAIN OUT THERE? IT WOULD NOT BE PRETTY. ON A DAY LIKE TODAY IT'S NICE TO BE INSIDE IF YOU WATCHING AT HOME, TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN AND LOOK AT THIS MASS ON I-85 SKY 5 LIVE OVER THE SCENE GIVING YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT IT'S LIKE ON THE ROADS WE'VE SEEN CRASHES ON I-85 NEAR 147 SOUTH OF DURHAM THAT HAS BEEN CLEARING BUT WE SEE RICHARD JEWELL  DELAYS AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE ROADS AS WE COME ON THE AIR THIS AFTERNOON A LOT OF YELLOW INDICATING THERE'S TROUBLE SPOTS. I-40 AND JEROME IS AN ISSUE. WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE SKY 5 IS. THAT'S A LOCATION. IT WILL BE A SLOW GOING FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AS PEOPLE GET HOME  IN TIME FOR THANKSGIVING. WE HAVE A REPORT I-40 WISH YOU GOT INFORMATION ABOUT TROOPERS AND POLICE AND DEPUTIES TEAMING UP TO CRACKDOWN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. >> Reporter: WE GOT TO HANG OUT WITH POLICE SHERIFF AND STATE TROOPERS AS THEY DE HAD PUTI A BIT OF ES A STAKEOUT THIS MORNING. AND 2.5 AT I-40 ALONG LAKE WHEELER ROAD, THEY ISSUED 88 CITATIONS TO DRIVERS FOR THINGS LIKE SPEEDING PICK THEY TELL ME THIS IS NOT ABOUT ISSUING TICKETS. IT'S REALLY ABOUT REMINDING DRIVERS TO BE SAFE THIS THANKSGIVING DOING SIMPLE THINGS LIKE WEARING YOUR SEATBELT, AN ACTION ONE FAMILY IN CARY IS THANKFUL FOR TODAY. >> >> Reporter: JUST SITTING DOWN WITH JAMES AND JACKSON, YOU WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO TELL THE TRULY SCARRING ORDEAL THEY WENT THROUGH ABOUT A MONTH AGO. >> SOME OF THEM PROGRESSED OUT AND SO DOES WANT US YOU. >> Reporter: TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE BOYS GOT THE SCARS, HE MUST GO BACK TO HIM IN OCTOBER WHEN THE BROTHERS WERE RIDING IN THE BACKSEAT OF A CAR WHICH SLAMMED INTO A TREE NEAR CARY TOWNE BOULEVARD. THEIR INJURIES WERE DEMONSTRATING. >> AWAY FROM THINK THEY WOULD BE OKAY TO THEY NEED EMERGENCY SURGERY. >> Reporter: EACH BOY HAD INTERNAL INJURIES. JAMES HAD FRACTURES IN THE SPINE. THE DAD HAD PERSPECTIVE. >> THINK ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE. JUST 24 HOURS BEFORE THAT THERE WAS A CRASH ON CAPITAL BOULEVARD OR FIVE KIDS IN THE SAME AGE GROUP DID NOT HAVE THEIR SEATBELTS ON AND THEY DIED. >> Reporter: JAMES AND JACKSON WERE WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS BUT TWO CLICKS THAT SAVED THEIR LIVES. >> HAD BEEN UP AND DOING THEIR SEATBELTS, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THEM? >> THEY WOULD'VE BEEN THROWN FROM THE CAR AND THE CHANCE OF A SURVIVAL RATE AT THAT POINT IS A COIN TOSS. >> Reporter: THE FAMILY ONCE DESCRIBED THE ODDS IN FAVOR OF ANYONE HITTING THE ROADS THIS THANKSGIVING. >> WE WERE AT A FRIEND'S BERTHA CARTY HAVING A GOOD NIGHT. >> Reporter: THE ISSUE THIS PSA ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO WEAR A SEATBELT PICK SOMETHING JAMES IS VERY THANKFUL THAT HE AND HIS BROTHER DID. >> WEAR YOUR SEATBELT AND EVEN IF YOU DO GET AND AN ACCIDENT, YOU WILL MOST LIKELY LIVE. THAT'S BETTER THAN NOT LIVING. >> Reporter: AND WE WANT TO MENTION THAT JOE IS A RADIO HOST FOR WRAL'S SPORTS FANS SO HE IS PART OF THE TREATMENT FAMILY . WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT HE AND HIS FAMILY WILL BE OKAY. ANOTHER WORD OF CAUTION TO DRIVERS BUT ACCORDING TO AAA, THE BUSIEST TIMES TO TRAVEL DURING THANKSGIVING WOULD BE AT NOON THROUGH 8:00 TODAY AND TOMORROW FROM NOON THROUGH 3:00 BUT THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS HIT THE ROAD EARLY IF YOU CAN. >> AND BE CAREFUL.

Traffic stops aim to reduce injuries, deaths on roads this holiday week

Joe Giglio, who co-hosts The OG with Joe Ovies on 99.9 FM The Fan, is grateful for many things this Thanksgiving, but the fact that he taught his boys the importance of buckling up - no matter which seat they're in - is at the top of the list. The Giglio family is sharing its story through public service announcements produced with the North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program. 

As a parent, you always want your kids to listen to you now, they always don't. But this one time I really was glad they were. My sons, James and Jackson were in a high speed car crash recently and they're only here today because they were wearing their seat belts. They were lucky. They might not feel that way, but they were lucky because they walked away from the accident and they're still with us. So always wear your seat belt even in the back seat.

Giglio thankful sons listened to his lesson. Seatbelts saved their lives.

While it's well known that seatbelts save lives, they can pose a risk to those who are pregnant. 



VISITING A BEER ON BUD.COM. >>> SEATBELTS ARE CRITICAL TO SAVING LIVES IN A CRASH BUT IF YOU ARE PREGNANT, THEY CAN POSE A SERIOUS RISK. 5 ON YOUR SIDE, MONICA, HAS SOME SAFETY ADVICE FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS. >>> REMEMBER THOSE OLD CRASH TEST DUMMY PSA'S? >> YOU COULD LEARN A LOT FROM A DUMMY. REMEMBER REMINDING YOU TO BUCKLE YOUR SEATBELT. NOTICE, NOTICE THE SIZE. THEY ARE DESIGNED FOR A VERY SPECIFIC SOMEONE. >> VEHICLES AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED FOR AVERAGE SIZED MEN. THAT POTENTIALLY LEAVES SMALL WOMEN, THE ELDERLY, AND CHILDREN, MORE VULNERABLE IN A CRASH. AND, IT IS BAD FOR PREGNANT PEOPLE. >> TO ADDRESS RISKS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN, SOME COMPANIES FELT SEATBELT ADJUSTERS OR PETITIONERS, THE DEVICES ATTACHED TO THE LAP PORTION OF A SEATBELT, AND ESSENTIALLY ANCHOR DOWN BETWEEN THE USERS LEGS. FARTHER AWAY FROM THE ABDOMEN. BUT, THE PROBLEM WITH THE SEATBELT ADJUSTERS IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT FIT ANY STANDARDS FOR THESE DEVICES, AND THEY DO NOT REGULATE THEM. SO, EXPERTS STILL BELIEVE THAT THE THREE POINT SEATBELT IS A PREGNANT PERSON'S BEST BET, AND THAT ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE CARS SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM CAN BE PROBLEMATIC. >> SO, CR SAYS WEARING A SEATBELT PRETTY CLOSE TO AS DESIGNED, IS STILL YOUR BEST OPTION FOR SAFETY. THE RECOMMENDATION, FIRST, ADJUST YOUR SEAT TO PUT AS MUCH DISTANCE AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN YOUR BELLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL. NEXT, ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL, SO YOU CAN COMFORTABLY REACH IT. THEN, ADJUST THE SEATBELT TO SHOULDER HEIGHT, AND PUT THE LAP BELT UNDER YOUR BELLY. DON'T WEAR IT OVER YOUR BELLY, IT COULD HARM YOUR BABY IN A CRASH. MONICA, WRAL NEWS,  5 ON YOUR SIDE. >>> SOME VALUABLE ADVICE. MONICA SAYS NEVER DISABLE THE AIRBAG AND WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING, PREGNANT WOMEN, WHEN YOU'RE NOT DRIVING RATHER, PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD SIT IN

5 On Your Side shares ways for pregnant women to stay safe while driving 

Advocates for child safety said Monday they won't ask state lawmakers for tougher seat belt laws next year because the General Assembly has ignored previous pleas for stricter laws.

Legislative apathy prompts state panel to abandon push for tougher seat belt laws

RESTRICTED -- Where Safety Takes a Back Seat: The Back Seat

An 8-year-old boy from Massachusetts is recovering after a frightening incident in which he became tangled in his seat belt and said he was choking. 

>>> THIS IS WRAL NEWS. >>> AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM MASSACHUSETTS, LOOKING TO BE ALIVE TODAY AFTER BECOMING TANGLED IN HIS SEATBELT OVER THE WEEKEND. HERE IS THE STORY FROM CAROLYN CONNOLLY. >> HI, WE NEED HELP RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: IT WAS A CALL FOR HELP AT THIS INTERSECTION IN BEDFORD. SHE NEVER IMAGINED SHE WOULD NEED ANSWERED. >> HE JUST SAID MOM, I CAN'T BREATHE, I AM STUCK. >> Reporter: THAT PLEA CAME FROM HER SON, BRADEN, ON SATURDAY. THE 8-YEAR-OLD WAS SEATED HERE IN THEIR ACURA WHEN HE SOMEHOW BECAME TANGLED IN HIS SEATBELT NEXT TO HIM. CONNECTED TO THE CEILING, IT CAUGHT AROUND HIS NECK, PULLING HIM TIGHTER AS HE PUSHED AWAY. >> BEFORE I COULD EVEN PROCESS ANYTHING, HE WAS BASICALLY HANGING FROM THE CEILING, JUST UNCONSCIOUS, BLUE AS CAN BE. THERE IS BLOOD COMING OUT FROM THE PRESSURE. >> Reporter: THAT IS WHEN SHE STOPPED HERE. >> ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEAR BANGING ON THE DOOR. >> Reporter: THERE SOMEONE WHERE ELIZABETH POSTEL WAS WORKING. >> I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS MY FUR-YEAR-OLD COMING FROM A. >> Reporter: USING A PAIR OF HER SCISSORS FROM AN APPOINTED, BRADEN WAS CUT FREE, REVIVED BY HIS MOTHER WITH CPR BEFORE BEING RUSHED TO A HOSPITAL. >> MY 31 YEARS OF POLICING, I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER HEARD THE STORY. >> Reporter: BEDFORD POLICE CHIEF SAYS THEY ARE NOW INVESTIGATING WHAT HAPPENED. AND URGING PARENTS TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS, LIKE STOCKING THEIR CARS WITH SAFETY KITS THAT COME WITH SCISSORS. >> THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE, AND THE MAIN POINT IS FOR PEOPLE TO BE PREPARED. >> Reporter: SHE NOW HOPES HER SON'S CASE HERE PREVENTS OTHERS IN THE FUTURE. >> I DON'T WANT ANOTHER MOM, I DON'T WANT ANOTHER PARENT TO EVER SEE THEIR KID GO THROUGH THAT. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO EXPERIENCE THAT. >> WHAT AN AMAZING STORY.

Boy rescued from seat belt malfunction

According to federal data, of the 37,000 people who died in vehicle crashes in 2016, 48 percent were not wearing seat belts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calls buckling up the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. Yet, WRAL Investigates found seat belts are not part of the state's annual safety inspection program.

Vehicle inspection not required to check if seat belt will save your life

Seat belt

Bevan Kirley, with The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center agrees, "Wearing your seat belt is one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep yourself safe in a crash. It only takes one second to buckle a seat belt and that second could save your life."