Highlights - May 17, 2002
12 EMPHASIS STATES' HIGHLIGHTS
WEST VIRGINIA
The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) awarded its
Regional Public Affairs and Consumer Education (PACE) Award to the West Virginia
Governor's Highway Safety Program for the State's Click It or Ticket
radio advertisements. This award also qualifies the State as a finalist in the
international awards category.
ALABAMA
On May 13, the Tuscaloosa Safe Community Coalition conducted a meeting among
African American and Hispanic diversity groups to garner support for the Click
It or Ticket campaign. Members of the faith, education, and public health
communities and other local leaders participated in the meeting. Seat belt checkpoints
were conducted in Birmingham, Gadsden, and Anniston. The Alabama Click It
or Ticket advertising campaign began airing throughout the State on May
13.
FLORIDA
NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D. and NHTSA Region IV Administrator
Troy Ayers met with Florida Governor Jeb Bush to gain support for Click It
or Ticket and other traffic safety initiatives. Governor Bush stated that
he will support traffic safety initiatives.
ILLINOIS
NHTSA Region V staff made a Click It or Ticket presentation to 25 Northern
Illinois insurance agents from American Family Insurance at the company's district
meeting in Chicago, Illinois on May 14. Agents took posters to display in their
office windows.
United Parcel Service (UPS), North Central Region, located in Downers Grove, Illinois has been working with the NHTSA Region V Office, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Indiana Governor's Council to Reduce Dangerous and Impaired Driving and promote Click It or Ticket throughout Illinois and Indiana. UPS will place Click It or Ticket static cling signs in the front window of 3,000 UPS package cars and display posters in customer counter locations.
INDIANA
On May 15, the Indiana Click It or Ticket kickoff press event was held
at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Key participants included U.S. Department
of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, NHTSA Deputy Administrator Annette
Sandberg, NHTSA Region V Administrator Donald McNamara, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
drivers, State and local enforcement representatives, members from the Indiana
Minority Health Coalition and various other VIPs from Indiana State and local
governments.
MICHIGAN
On May 13, the Traffic Safety Association of Michigan, Detroit Mayor Kwame M.
Kilpatrick, Chief Judge of the 36th District Court Marylin E. Atkins, Detroit
City Council President Maryann Mahaffey, and Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan
Chief of Staff Kertia Black, M.D., co-signed a letter to the Wayne County judges
and magistrates requesting a commitment to join the Michigan Click It or
Ticket effort by upholding the strong enforcement of valid seat belt citations
in their courts. Mayor Kilpatrick, a former Michigan legislator, was a primary
sponsor of Michigan's standard seat belt enforcement law.
NEVADA
Two kickoff news conferences for the No Exceptions, No Excuses. Buckle Up
Nevada campaign were held on May14 in Reno and Las Vegas. NHTSA Region IX
Administrator David Manning spoke at each of these press conferences. Two additional
press conferences are scheduled for the first week of the enforcement period,
during which the Governor will speak out in support of Nevada's campaign.
NEW YORK
The New York State Police Superintendent and the Department of Education Commissioner
wrote to over 600 State high school superintendents asking for their support
for the May Mobilization. The superintendents were asked to provide a morning
announcement script to high schools in their systems to be read over the schools'
public address systems prior to May 20. The Air Bag & and Seat Belt Safety
campaign is assisting New York in gaining CNN coverage for this effort.
OHIO
The Governor's Highway Safety Office is conducting a final push to recruit additional
law enforcement agencies to participate in the What's Holding You Back?
enforcement effort. The State is conducting a contest to entice non-participating
law enforcement agencies to sign on.
TEXAS
NHTSA Region VI staff, Texas Department of Transportation, law enforcement,
and community leaders participated in local Click It or Ticket kickoff
events held in Dallas/Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, Houston, Lubbock, Wichita
Falls, San Antonio, and El Paso. Media coverage was extensive. Results from
the
May 7-9 baseline observational seat belt use surveys in the 10 largest cities
were released. Usage rates ranged from a low of 74.8 percent in San Antonio
to a high of 88.9 percent in Garland.
VERMONT
Lt. Colonel Tom Powlovich of the Vermont State Police wrote a letter to all
State Troopers urging them to take a leadership role in the Click It or Ticket
Mobilization. The State Highway Safety Office received numerous phone calls
in support of the Click It or Ticket media spots. The most popular radio
talk show in Vermont spontaneously turned into an impromptu forum for the Click
It or Ticket campaign without benefit of a spokesperson. Most individuals
who called the show stated support for the campaign and the host ultimately
expressed his support for the campaign as well.
WASHINGTON
NHTSA Region X held a Regional Click It or Ticket meeting for the States
of Alaska, Idaho, and Oregon to showcase Click It or Ticket activities
planned for Washington State and to encourage the three non-participating States
to join the effort. As a result, the Anchorage Police Department will place
an ad in the Anchorage Daily News to publicize the number of seat belt
citations written during the May Mobilization.
HEADQUARTERS ACTIVITIES
OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY PROGRAMS
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND TRAFFIC RECORDS
Baseline observational, resident telephone and DMV surveys have been completed
in all participating States.
OFFICE OF TRAFFIC INJURY CONTROL
NHTSA Deputy Administrator Annette Sandberg, made a presentation about the Click
It or Ticket campaign before the 25th annual Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined
Accident Reduction Effort) meeting held May 10-14 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Operation C.A.R.E. is a key enforcement partners in the Click It or Ticket
campaign. Jerry McCrory, Indiana Governor's Highway Safety Representative,
briefed the participants about the Click It or Ticket program in Indiana.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) stated its support for the Click It or Ticket campaign. MADD provided information about the campaign to its State chapters and encouraged the chapters to support Click It or Ticket activities at the local level.
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH
On May 6, the National Rural Health Association issued a news release announcing
its support for the Click It or Ticket campaign. The release was distributed
nationally to television, radio and print media.
