|
Kingsport Police Department
200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX) |
|
|
| NEWS RELEASE | |||
| SUBJECT: | Kingsport Police Make Seatbelt Enforcement a Priority During National “Click It or Ticket” Mobilization | ||
| DATE: | May 15, 2015 | ||
| GENERAL NARRATIVE | |||
| From May 18 through 31, 2015, the Kingsport Police Department is partnering with the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office to step up seatbelt enforcement. This campaign encompasses the Memorial Day holiday, which is traditionally one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
Every day, unbuckled motorists are losing their lives in motor vehicle crashes. As we approach Memorial Day weekend and the summer vacation season, we want to make sure people are doing the one thing that can save them in a crash—buckling up. Tennessee reached its highest seatbelt usage percentage last year at 87.71%. However, Tennessee is still considered a “low use” state on a national level. According to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, over half of Tennessee’s traffic fatalities in 2014 were not restrained at the time of the crash. Each year, the University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research performs an observational seatbelt survey. The results of this survey indicate that male pickup truck occupants have the lowest rate of seatbelt use statewide. This statistic holds true for both rural and urban areas. Last month, Governor Haslam signed a bill that will increase Tennessee’s seatbelt fine beginning in January 2016. “The fine is more than doubling,” said Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Tracy Trott. “The statistics speak for themselves—when we have more people buckling up, we have more people walking away from crashes. Start making the smart decision now before it costs you.” “Our law enforcement partners receive funding each year specifically to take part in this campaign,” said Governor’s Highway Safety Office Director Kendell Poole. “They will be looking for seatbelt violators, and they will ticket you. If you think not wearing your seatbelt doesn’t impact anyone but you, you are wrong. Every citizen is impacted by medical and emergency expenses, lost productivity, increased insurance premiums, and property loss. This doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the pain and suffering of your friends, family, and the law enforcement and emergency personnel working the crash.” Wearing a seatbelt can easily make the difference in a motorist being seriously injured or killed in a crash versus literally walking away from the crash with minor injuries or completely unscathed. The Kingsport Police Department encourages ALL occupants of ALL motor vehicles to wear their seatbelt ALL of the time. It is the law, but more importantly, it might just save a life. For more information on seat belt safety, visit www.TNTrafficSafety.org. |
|||
| RELEASING OFFICER | ||
 |
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit |
|
