FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Andrea Blakeway

Public Relations Specialist

ablakeway@kennerpd.com

Office: (504) 712-2244

April 28, 2009

KPD Launches Click It or Ticket Campaign to Help Save Lives

KENNER — During 2007, more than 14,000 people in passenger vehicles died in crashes while unbelted. About half of these lives could have been saved if they had been wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. As sad as this statistic is, the numbers are even worse at night than during the day, according to new figures released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Nationwide in 2007, 14,464 passenger vehicle occupants died in highway crashes during evening and night-time hours (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.). Of those, 63 percent (8,319) were not wearing their seat belts. By contrast, during daylight hours, 45 percent (5,917) of those killed were not wearing seat belts.

In Louisiana, 882 vehicle occupants died in traffic crashes during 2007, and of those, 65 percent were not wearing seat belts.

That’s why the Kenner Police Department is joining state and local law enforcement agencies and highway safety groups in supporting an aggressive national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign from May 18 through May 31. Police will be ticketing unbelted vehicle occupants around the clock.

Seat belts are the single most effective piece of safety equipment in a vehicle, yet NHTSA observational studies show that nearly one out of five Americans still fails to wear a seat belt when driving or riding in a motor vehicle. When worn correctly, seat belts have been proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans.

“Seat belts clearly save lives,” said Kenner Police Chief Steve Caraway. “Unfortunately, too many people still need a tough reminder, so we are going to be out in full force day and night buckling down on those who are not buckled up.”

Stepped-up law enforcement activities will be conducted during the 2009 Click It or Ticket mobilization period from May 18 – 31. The mobilization effort is being supported by an $8 million national paid advertising campaign, which, along with additional state advertising, will encourage every driver and passenger to buckle up, especially at night.

More information: For more information, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.

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