MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL KICKS OFF SAFETY CAMPAIGN

Captain John W. Elliott, commanding officer of Troop B, Macon, announces Troop B's involvement in The Missouri State Highway Patrol's special traffic safety campaign. Entitled, “I'm Saving Lives. Help Wanted.”, this campaign's focus is on safety and reducing the number of traffic fatalities in Missouri. In 2006, Missouri led the nation when it experienced a 13 percent decrease in traffic deaths for that year.

Current statistics indicate traffic deaths continue to decline. Thus far in 2007, 12 percent fewer people have been killed on Missouri roadways compared to the same time period in 2006. The Patrol has adopted a goal of less than 1,000 traffic fatalities in 2008.

The key message of the “I'm Saving Lives. ‘Help Wanted'” campaign is that troopers are saving lives on Missouri's roads, and we want motorists to help in our effort.

How can motorists help?

Wear your seat belt.

The wearing of seat belts by drivers and passengers in vehicles is one of the best ways to prevent death and personal injury when involved in a traffic crash. Current legislation requires the use of child car seats and booster seats, as well as adult seat belt use. The effectiveness of using restraint devices become apparent when considering the following 2006 traffic crash data:

A driver of an automobile, van, motor home, or truck had a 1 in 31 chance of being killed if they were not wearing a seat belt. And in those cases where the driver wore a seat belt their chance of being killed was 1 in 1,300.

Pay attention when you're driving.

Driver inattention continues to be a leading contributing circumstance to traffic crashes in Missouri. A total of 232 people were killed and 12,421 were injured in 2006 Missouri traffic crashes where driver inattention was listed as a contributing circumstance. Driver inattention can be attributed to the following: Drinking and eating; Changing a radio station or CD; Talking or texting on a cellular phone; Reading; Computer equipment; Passenger; Grooming; and Any other activity that takes any of your attention away from the full-time job of driving.

Avoid drinking and driving.

A total of 273 people were killed and 5,157 people were injured in 2006 in Missouri drinking-related traffic crashes. Even though the numbers have decreased since the 1980s, driving while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs continues to be one of the top three contributing circumstances to Missouri traffic crashes. The Patrol has and will continue to conduct special enforcement operations targeting impaired drivers. The Patrol is dedicated to saving lives and making our roadways safer, and this type of enforcement and educational program obviously helps us meet that goal.

Obey the speed limit.

Speed is a significant contributing factor in Missouri's traffic crash experience, especially as it relates to crashes involving death and injury. A total of 454 persons were killed and 13,919 were injured in Missouri last year in speed-related traffic crashes. Troopers continually enforce the speed limit laws of our state and the Patrol also conducts special enforcement operations targeting speeding vehicles, including commercial vehicles. We ask that drivers obey all traffic laws and to pay close attention to those signs, which indicate a decrease in the speed limits.

Be a courteous driver.

No matter how many laws are passed by our legislature, courtesy still plays an important role in safety on our roads. Whether it is taking your turn at a four way stop, allowing a car to merge into traffic from a side road, or always yielding to the other vehicle, a little courtesy will go a long way in traffic safety. State law requires the use of turn signals when making a right or left turn and when changing lanes. By following this law it also allows those vehicles around you to know your intentions. This can be perceived as a courtesy gesture by other drivers possibly avoiding aggressive driving or road rage incidents.

Currently, the new “Help Wanted” bumper stickers are being placed on Troop B MSHP vehicles to promote the campaign. This new campaign will not affect the “Move Over” campaign. The Patrol will still enforce the “Move Over” law and promote compliance through educational programs, PSAs, and news releases. The “Help Wanted” campaign will work in conjunction with the “Move Over” campaign.

Posters promoting the “Help Wanted” campaign and safe driving will be displayed at Troop B Headquarters. Posters will be provided to the Missouri Department of Revenue for display in all the local DOR Vehicle and Driver Licensing Offices. In addition, to help promote this safety campaign, Troop B will affix small “Help Wanted” stickers to all outgoing correspondence.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol urges motorists to continue to do their part to reduce traffic fatalities. Help us keep the fatality numbers moving in the right direction. Missourians can help further make the roads safe by reporting dangerous drivers by calling the Patrol's Emergency Report Line at 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone.

Captain Elliott stated, “I'm encouraged by the recent reduction in traffic fatalities in Missouri. I'm confident through educational efforts such as the “I'm Saving Lives. Help Wanted.” campaign, the continued efforts of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, local law enforcement and the citizens of Missouri, we can continue to reduce traffic fatalities on Missouri's roadways.”