Seat Belt Usage Stressed For Memorial Day Holiday Travel

(Lincoln, NE)- Photo Gallery - Gov. Dave Heineman was joined by Nebraska law enforcement, safety officials and community partners, to promote safe travel and the "Click It or Ticket " Mobilization as the Memorial Day Holiday weekend approaches.  This is the fifth year the state has participated in the national safety campaign, which began May 18 and runs through May 31.

“We continue to see a reduction in fatalities on Nebraska roads,” said Governor Dave Heineman.  “It is through campaigns such as “Click It or Ticket”, as well as the development of public-private partnerships utilized to promote highway safety programs, that enable our state, local and federal safety partners to make a difference and save the lives of Nebraska motorists”.

The number of fatalities on Nebraska roads in 2008 was 208, the lowest in Nebraska since 1944, with 166.  As of May 20, 2009 (today), 70 people have been killed as the result of motor vehicle crashes in Nebraska.  That compares with 83 as of this date last year and 98 as of this date in 2007.  Several factors can be attributed to the decline in fatalities.  

Gov. Heineman said, “Through strategic planning we have been able to draw on the four E’s of safety; engineering, enforcement, education and emergency response, to develop programs geared toward reducing crashes resulting in injury or death.”

The “Click It or Ticket” mobilization is an example of one of those efforts.  In 2008 the seat belt use rate in Nebraska increased from 79% to 83% for drivers and front seat passengers.  Child restraint use in 2008 increased from 93% to 96%. 

Beverly Neth, Director Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles said, “ Through the “Click It or Ticket” campaign, 56 local law enforcement agencies and the Nebraska State Patrol will add nearly 12,000 hours of additional traffic enforcement through the Memorial Day holiday.   The combination of additional officers and an increased public information campaign is a proven method of raising awareness and compliance in the use of seat belts and child restraints.”

Highlighting the news conference was the unveiling of the Nebraska State Patrol’s newest Seat Belt Convincer.  The machine, purchased through a grant from State Farm Insurance, simulates a low impact collision, demonstrating the importance of wearing your seat belt every time you get into a vehicle.

“Every day our troopers get behind the wheel of their patrol cars, dedicated to reducing the number of fatal crashes through the enforcement of crash causing behaviors,” said Colonel Bryan Tuma, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.  “Through help from our community and safety partners, we are able to combine enforcement with education.  Being able to provide citizens the opportunity to see and feel how a seat belt can help save a life in a crash is an invaluable learning experience.”

In 2008, the Nebraska State Patrol issued 3,293 seat belt-use citations and more than 8,500 warnings were issued.  Troopers wrote 1,004 tickets for drivers with child passengers who were not properly restrained and issued 830 warnings.  Of the 183 vehicle occupants who died from injuries sustained in Nebraska traffic crashes in 2008, 118 were not wearing seat belts.

“State Farm has a longstanding commitment to making our roads safer,” said Vice President of Operations, Dean Van Loon.  “All of us here today, are working to keep the motoring public safe by reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities.  We are pleased to continue our partnership with the State Patrol to educate and raise awareness on the role seat belts play in saving lives.”

With the Memorial Day Holiday seen as the start of the summer travel season, motorists are reminded road construction projects typically increase during summer months.   Over the past ten years, the number of reported crashes has decreased from 1,067 in 1998 to 386 in 2007.  Data for 2008 is not yet available.  We hope the decrease in crash numbers will continue.

Monty Fredrickson, Deputy Director of the Nebraska Department of Roads said, “With highway construction work getting into full swing for the next several months, extra caution is encouraged on the part of both drivers and highway workers.  This year, as many as 200 state highway improvement projects could be active across the state.  Work Zones are essential to building safer, smoother, improved roads for our state.  Seat belts and driver awareness are also essential to highway safety.”