GHSO Launches Click It AND Ticket Teen Safety Belt Campaign

 

NASHVILLE – Each year, dozens of Tennessee teens die in traffic crashes in Tennessee and many of those are not wearing safety belts. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers. The Governor’s Highway Safety Office wants to help save teen lives by encouraging more teens to wear their safety belts. The GHSO is partnering with State Farm Insurance, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions Across Tennessee (CADCAT) and three Tennessee high schools to launch a pilot program called Click It AND Ticket. During the program, volunteers will conduct seat belt observations at the schools and students or parents wearing their safety belts will be given a ticket to enter into a drawing to win a prize. The penalty for not wearing a safety belt in Tennessee is $10, so volunteers will draw ten tickets and award $10 gift cards to ten students.  In addition, one student from each school will win a $100 gift card.

 

The Click it AND Ticket events will begin each morning at 7:00 a.m. at Smyrna High School in Rutherford County on May 17^th, G. W. Carver High School in Memphis on May 18^th and David Crockett High School in Jonesborough on May 19^th. These events are being funded by State Farm Insurance. CADCAT will facilitate the events.

 

“In 2008, 125 teens died in traffic crashes in the state,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “The time between prom and graduation is a very critical time and the emphasis of wearing a seat belt is essential.”

 

Every year thousands of teens in the U.S. die in motor vehicle crashes. Since 2006, the number of Tennessee teenage deaths has declined from 185 to 125 in 2008. Still, mile for mile, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers.

 

“Teens need to remember whether they are driving across town or just around the neighborhood, wearing seat belts is the absolute best way to protect themselves and their passengers from severe injury or even death,” said GHSO Director Kendell Poole. “Wearing your seat belt costs nothing, but not wearing it could cost you your life.”

 

In 2008, 41 percent of the young drivers in the U.S. who were killed in crashes were not wearing a safety belt according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Educating high school students about the importance of buckling up every trip, every time is critical.  The Click It AND Ticket project will supplement several other initiatives sponsored by GHSO and TDOT to educate teens and prevent the senseless loss of life.    

 

TDOT reminds teens that distracted driving, like texting while driving, is a dangerous practice. Texting may be a convenient way to communicate but it can be deadly when done from behind the wheel of a vehicle. Texting while driving is also against the law in Tennessee.

 

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