DANGER ON GEORGIA’S RURAL ROADS

Crash data shows Georgia’s rural roads are more dangerous than our busy interstates. 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. Georgians driving or riding on rural roadways face a much greater risk of being injured or killed in traffic crashes than those in urban or suburban areas because more of those Georgians aren’t wearing their safety belts. That’s why we always need to buckle-up!

 

RURAL ROADS CAMPAIGN

Starting November 17th, the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety is launching a special high-visibility Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign to buckle-down on all motorists not buckling-up – especially those in rural areas.

This special rural roadway enforcement emphasis will begin in conjunction with the State of Georgia’s annual November 2008 Click It or Ticket campaign and will run again during the Memorial Day holiday safetybelt enforcement campaign in May 2009.

“Why? Because in 2 007, 1,252 people died on Georgia’s state and county roads, compared with 235 deaths on our interstate highways,” says Director Dallas.  “And pe rhaps the worst part of all, is the killing, maiming and injuring of hundreds of Georgians involved in crashes on our rural counties each year is 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. In 2007, 4,540 teen passenger vehicle occupants, ages 16-20, were killed in motor vehicle crashes across the nation, and 61 percent* were unrestrained at the time of the fatal crash.

Deaths involving pickup truck occupants statistically also have a greater occurrence on rural roads. And because of the higher center of gravity, there’s a higher risk of vehicle rollover and occupant ejection during a pickup truck crash. In 2007 safety belt usage rates for pickup trucks was only 73.6% versus 91.0% for all passenger vehicles.  Failure to wear safety belts leads to an estimated 5,760 additional pickup truck injuries in Georgia and costs Georgians $346-million in related healthcare costs and economic losses.  In Georgia, nearly three-fourths of pickup truck occupants killed were not restrained*.

“Seat belts clearly save lives, but unfortunately too many Georgia drivers and particularly those in our rural counties, still need a tough reminder,” says the Georgia highway safety director. “This November, we’re committed to doing everything we can to convince folks that regular seat belt use is still the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.”

“Just remember. No more warnings. No more excuses. No matter who you are or where you are on the road, 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.”