DANGER ON GEORGIA ’S RURAL ROADS

Click It Or Ticket Country Roads Crackdown

Georgia’s rural roads contain a deadly math problem that the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) wants to see solved. This conundrum shows our rural roads are more dangerous than their urban counterparts: When Georgia experienced 1,008 traffic fatalities in 2008, nearly half were in the heart of our rural communities.

Curiously, Georgia’s not alone in its rural crash death dilemma. There were 34,017 fatal vehicle crashes across the United States in 2008. Rural areas accounted for 55-percent of those crashes and 56-percent of the fatalities that resulted. That’s right…although only a quarter of the nation’s population lives in rural areas, the number of deadly crashes out on country roads actually accounts for more than half of all traffic fatalities.

That’s why in an effort to save lives across Georgia’s rural roadways, state and local traffic enforcement officers will be out in force for a special safety belt enforcement campaign mobilization over the Memorial Day holiday. “We’re going to send the Click It or Ticket message loud and clear to all drivers and passengers, but with a special emphasis on those in rural areas,” said GOHS Director Bob Dallas. “Seatbelts clearly save lives, but unfortunately too many drivers in Georgia and particularly those in rural counties, still need a tough reminder.”

Rural roads frequently become fatality crash sites because they’re often narrow, two-lane roads with no physical barrier or division separating oncoming traffic. Add to those conditions the elements of frequent entering and exiting traffic and it creates a formula for fatalities. That’s why GOHS wants everyone to remember that Georgia is Buckle-Up Country…because seatbelts save lives!

“Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in crashes,” said Director Dallas. “When we learn that 56-percent of people killed in rural area traffic crashes across the country were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of their fatal crash, we mourn for so many lives that might have been saved if only people took the few seconds to buckle up.”

GOHS is launching this special high-visibility rural roadway Buckle-Up Country enforcement emphasis in conjunction with the State of Georgia’s annual May 2010 Click It or Ticket campaign during the Memorial Day Holiday. The focus is to buckle-down on all motorists not buckling-up – especially those in rural areas.

“Why? Because when worn correctly, seatbelts are proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat light truck occupants by 60-percent and as much as 80-percent in the event of a rollover crash,” said Director Dallas. “Simply buckling your seatbelt can reduce medical and legal expenses, lost wages, lost productivity, high insurance rates and other burdensome costs that all of us share due to rollovers and other vehicle crashes. Many of the crashes on our rural roads are even preventable if we could just get all occupants of all cars and pickups to wear their safety belts.”

Georgia crash stats show that in addition to those drivers and passengers in rural areas, others most at risk of experiencing a fatal crash are teen drivers – particularly young males, and pickup truck drivers and their passengers. Motor vehicle crashes are still the number one cause of death for teens nationwide and in Georgia. In 2008, 70-percent of 13-to-15 year-olds killed in traffic crashes were not buckled up. That’s the highest percentage of all age groups.

An astonishing 79-percent of Georgia pickup truck occupants killed in traffic crashes are also unrestrained at the time of the crash. Nationally in 2008, 67-percent of pickup truck drivers and 70-percent of pickup truck passengers who were killed in traffic crashes were not buckled up. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that pickup truck drivers, particularly young males, consistently have the lowest seat belt usage rates of all motorists.

“So just remember. No more warnings. No more excuses. No matter who you are or where you are on the road, if you don’t want to risk a ticket especially in Georgia’s rural areas—Click It or Ticket.”

For more safetybelt information, please visit www.gahighwaysafety.org or www.NHTSA.gov or www.region4ruralbeltproject.org . If you don’t click it, expect a ticket. Georgia is Buckle-Up Country!

Click It Or Ticket Crackdown on Country Roads

GEORGIA’S RURAL ROADS FACT SHEET:

Buckling-Down on Those Not Buckled-Up

  • In an effort to save more lives on our rural roadways, State and local law enforcement will be out in force with a special Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization called Georgia Buckle-Up Country this May. During the mobilization, law enforcement officers will issue tickets to all motorists and passengers not buckled up – especially those in rural areas.
  • The special enforcement blitz will begin on May 17 and will be in addition to Georgia’s traditional Click It or Ticket enforcement during May 24 – June 6th.
  • Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.
  • In 2008, 34,017 fatal motor vehicle crashes occurred in the United States resulting in 37,261 deaths. Rural areas accounted for 55-percent of fatal crashes and 56-percent of fatalities.

Rural Drivers and Passengers among those Least Likely to Buckle-Up

  • In Georgia’s rural areas, the percentage of unrestrained passenger car occupants killed was greater than those in urban areas.
  • Although nearly a quarter of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, fatalities in rural areas account for more than half of all traffic fatalities.
  • Americans driving or riding on rural roadways face a much greater risk of being killed or injured in traffic crashes than those in urban or suburban areas, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
  • Nationally in 2008, 56-percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in rural areas were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crash, compared to 52-percent of those killed in urban area crashes.
  • Part of the danger to rural drivers comes from delayed recovery and emergency response along isolated roadways. But much of the danger is also due to excessive speed, increased alcohol use, vehicle rollovers and higher occupant ejection rates resulting from low seat belt use.

Young Males and Pickup Truck Occupants Among Those at Greatest Risk

  • According to NHTSA, pickup truck drivers and passengers, particularly young males, consistently have the lowest seat belt usage rates of all motorists.
  • This lack of seat belt use is deadly. In fact, 67-percent of pickup truck drivers killed in traffic crashes were not buckled-up at the time of the fatal crash.
  • When worn correctly, seat belts are proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat light truck occupants by 60-percent and as much as 80-percent in the event of a rollover crash.

No More Excuses, Georgia—Click It or Ticket!

  • Simply buckling your seat belt can reduce medical and legal expenses, lost wages, lost productivity, high insurance rates and other burdensome costs that all citizens share due to rollovers and vehicle crashes.
  • No matter who you are or where you drive, but especially in Georgia’s rural areas, if you don’t want to risk a ticket—or more importantly, your life—Click It or Ticket.   Georgia is Buckle-Up Country!  If you don’t click it, expect a ticket.