NEW SAFETY CAMPAIGN IN MISSOURI FOCUSES ON TRAFFIC DEATHS

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has a special traffic safety campaign for 2008, titled, "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.

"Traffic deaths continue to decline in Missouri," Col. James F. Keathley said. "Thus far in 2007, 13-percent fewer people have been killed on Missouri roadways compared to the same time period in 2006. The current goal in traffic fatality reduction is 'less than 1,000 traffic fatalities in 2008'."The key message of the 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. Missouri has recognized the benefit seat belt usage has on reducing traffic crash deaths and injuries through the passage of infant restraint, booster seat and adult seat belt laws in recent years. 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 4 chance of being injured if they were not wearing a seat belt. However if they were wearing a seat belt their chance of being injured was 1 in 8.

It is more dramatic when examining driver deaths. A driver 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 the leading contributing circumstance to traffic crashes in Missouri. There were 232 people killed and 12,421 injured in 2006 Missouri traffic crashes where driver inattention was listed as a contributing circumstance.

Avoid drinking and driving.

There were 273 people killed and 5,157 people 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.

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. There were 454 persons killed and 13,919 injured in 2006 in Missouri speed-related traffic crashes.

These totals include those crashes where exceeding the speed limit and speed too fast for the conditions were involved. Troopers continually enforce the speed limit laws of our state and the Highway Patrol also conducts special enforcement operations targeting speeding vehicles, including commercial vehicles.

These special enforcement operations are also conducted in construction zones, where exceeding the speed limit is dangerous for the workers as well as the drivers. In many of the crashes, inattention and speed are both indicated as contributing circumstances. We ask that drivers obey all traffic laws and 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.

"The keys to traffic safety are the four Es: Enforcement, Education, Emergency Medical Services, and Engineering," Col. Keathley said. "The Patrol is focusing its efforts on Enforcement and Education. We're asking all Missouri drivers to please join us."

The new "Help Wanted" bumper stickers are being placed on all MSHP vehicles statewide to promote the campaign. This new campaign will not affect the "Move Over" campaign. The Highway 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.

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.