Thank you for your support of Buckle Up America and the November 22-28, 1999 Operation ABC Mobilization: America Buckles Up Children. Because of the historic efforts of law enforcement agencies across the country and with supporting organizations like yours, Buckle Up America continues to grow and each Operation ABC Mobilization is bigger and more effective than the last. You are an important part of the team saving lives. In 1998, 19 million more Americans buckled up. And if these millions of people continue to use seat belts, an estimated 1,500 lives will be saved each year.

This planner is designed to help you publicize your "Endorsement for Enforcement" and your support of local law enforcement whose efforts to enforce seat belt laws have saved so many lives this year. Additionally, informing the media, government officials and your members or employees of your endorsement will build visible support for these lifesaving efforts within your community and demonstrate that there is wide community support for protecting children through enforcement and education.

Included are template materials to help you. Personalize these materials and include state and local statistics if available. If you would like to download these templates as electronic files, please visit our web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/November 1999 Mobilization planner.

Letter to Elected Officials: As soon as possible, we encourage you to send this letter to your governor, mayor, city council members and/or legislators. Please be sure to send a copy to local and state law enforcement officials so they are aware of your support.

Letter to Local Law Enforcement: Send this letter soon to your local police, sheriff or state police/highway patrol, while copying it for your local elected officials and state legisla-tors so they know programs like Operation ABC deserve their attention and have your support.

Drop-in Article: Use this article to inform your members or employees about Buckle Up America and the Operation ABC Mobilization. You might include it in your newsletter, on your web page, or in a mailing or other communication. Also, you can adapt this letter to be an opinion editorial. If you do not have success placing the op-ed in a local newspaper, or if you have an additional newspaper in your community or an article about passenger safety that warrants response, adapt this drop-in to be a letter-to-the-editor. If the letter-to-the-editor and op-ed are submitted by a high ranking official in your organization, it will have a better chance of getting printed. Send these to your local newspapers no later than November 15.