Appendix B
Media Planner for Outreach Organizations
GREAT LAKES RURAL ENFORCEMENT PLANNER
FACT SHEET and TALKING POINTS
“Click It or Ticket” – Safety Belts Save Lives
- Regular safety belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.
- Seventy-five percent of the passenger vehicle occupants who are in a serious crash and who are buckled up, survive the crash.
- Although safety belt use increased to a record 82 percent nationally in 2005 (up from 58 percent since 1994), too many American still choose not to regularly wear their safety belts.
- Observed safety belt usage rates for the States in the Great Lakes Region during 2005 were:
- Illinois – 86.0 percent
- Indiana – 81.2 percent
- Michigan – 92.9 percent
- Minnesota – 83.9 percent
- Ohio – 78.7 percent
- Wisconsin – 73.3 percent
- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 31,693 passenger vehicle occupants died in traffic crashes during 2004 – and 55 percent of those killed were not wearing their safety belts at the time of the crash. This underscores the need for more States to adopt primary safety belt laws to save more lives.
- In 2005, observed safety belt use in primary law States averaged 85 percent, compared to 75 percent in States with secondary laws.
Rural Motorists, Pickup Truck Occupants, and Young Males Still at Greatest Risk
- Americans driving or riding on rural roadways face a much greater risk of being injured or killed in traffic crashes than do those in urban or suburban areas, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- Safety belt use in the Nation’s rural areas consistently trails the national average.
- Nationally, in 2005, only 79 percent of rural drivers and their passengers were observed wearing their safety belts compared to 81 percent for urban motorists and 83 percent among suburban motorists.
- During 2004, [ ___ ] percent of [State Name’s] total traffic fatalities occurred in rural areas. One big factor is lower safety belt use on rural roadways.
- While only about a fifth of Americans live in rural areas, rural traffic fatalities accounted for 58 percent of the Nation’s total in 2004.
- Even more alarming, the motor vehicle crash fatality rate in rural areas is almost double the fatality rate in urban areas.
- Part of the danger to rural drivers comes from delayed recovery and emergency response along isolated roadways. But much of the danger is also due to excessive speed, increased alcohol use, vehicle rollovers and higher occupant ejection rates due to low safety belt use in rural areas.
- According to NHTSA, pickup truck drivers and passengers, especially in rural areas, consistently have the lowest safety belt usage rates of all motorists.
- In 2005, the observed safety belt use rate in pickup trucks was only 73 percent compared to 83 percent in passenger cars and 85 percent in vans and SUVs.
- This lack of safety belt use is deadly. In 2004, 68 percent of pickup truck drivers and 73 percent of pickup truck passengers who were killed in traffic crashes were not buckled up.
- One of the deadliest causes in any vehicle crash comes when passengers get ejected from the vehicle – with most coming from failure to wear safety belts.
- In fact, 74 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were totally ejected from their vehicle in 2004 were killed. But only 1 in 100 drivers and passengers in fatal crashes who were wearing their safety belts were totally ejected and killed.
- The ejection rate for occupants of light trucks involved in fatal crashes is nearly double the rate for passenger car occupants – because pickup trucks roll over twice as often as passenger cars.
- Motorists can increase the odds of survival in a rollover crash in light truck by nearly 80 percent by wearing their safety belt.
No More Excuses – Click It or Ticket
- [Local Organization] is joining with hundreds of other State and local law enforcement and highway safety officials across the Great Lakes region during the month of May for an aggressive “Click It or Ticket” mobilization to save lives by cracking down on low safety belt use.
- Added enforcement emphasis will be placed on the State’s rural roadways during the first two weeks of May this year.
- The goal is simple: to save more lives by convincing drivers and passengers to always buckle up.
- This special Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement mobilization targeting rural motorists in the Great Lakes region immediately precedes the national Click It or Ticket safety belt mobilization.
- The mobilization includes a variety of increased enforcement and outreach activities to reach rural motorists including special television and radio advertisements in targeted rural markets where traffic fatalities have been most prevalent.
- For more information, please visit www.greatlakesproject.org or www.buckleupamerica.org.
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GREAT LAKES RURAL ENFORCEMENT PLANNER
SAMPLE OP-ED
410 WORDS
“Click It or Ticket”
To Zero in on Rural Drivers This May
During 2004, [ ___ ] percent of [State Name’s] total traffic fatalities occurred on rural roadways.
In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the same pattern holds true nationally. Statistics show that Americans driving or riding on rural roadways face a much greater risk of being injured or killed than do those in urban or suburban areas. One big factor is lower safety belt use on rural roadways.
That’s why [Organization Name] is joining with hundreds of other State and local law enforcement and highway safety officials across the Great Lakes region during the month of May for an aggressive “Click It or Ticket” mobilization to crack down on low safety belt use.
When worn correctly, safety belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent – and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and mini-vans.
Nationally, in 2005, only 79 percent of rural drivers and their passengers were observed wearing their safety belts compared to 81 percent for urban motorists and 83 percent among suburban motorists.
Moreover, according to NHTSA, pickup truck drivers, especially in rural areas, consistently have the lowest safety belt usage rates of all motorists. In 2005, the observed safety belt use rate in pickup trucks was only 73 percent compared to 83 percent in passenger cars and 85 percent in vans and SUVs.
This lack of safety belt use is deadly. In 2004, 68 percent of pickup truck drivers and 73 percent of pickup truck passengers who were killed in traffic crashes were not buckled up.
Only about a fifth of Americans live in rural areas, yet rural traffic fatalities accounted for 58 percent of the Nation’s total in 2004. Even more alarming, the motor vehicle crash fatality rate in rural areas is almost double the fatality rate in urban areas. That’s why we’re going to aggressively remind folks to always buckle up.
Too many people, especially those on our rural roadways, still take the attitude that it will never happen to me. But fatal crashes can and do happen every day. So this May, we will be out in force to remind everyone to buckle up. We’d much rather write a thousand tickets than have to knock on one family’s door with the news that their loved one didn’t survive a crash because they weren’t wearing their safety belt.
Please remember. No more delays. No more excuses. Click It or Ticket.
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GREAT LAKES RURAL ENFORCEMENT PLANNER SAMPLE NEWS RELEASE Note: before filling in the names of the organization and the organization’s spokesperson, you MUST contact them to obtain their permission to use their names in this press release, and you must get their approval for the language of their quotations, and any changes or additions they may require. Only after this is done should you send out the press release. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: [Date] CONTACT: [Name, Phone Number] |
“Click It or Ticket”
To Zero in on Rural Drivers This May
Law Enforcement Blitz to Boost Safety Belt Use
[City, State]— During 2004, [ ___ ] percent of [State Name’s] total traffic fatalities occurred on rural roadways.
In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the same pattern holds true nationally. Statistics show that Americans driving or riding on rural roadways face a much greater risk of being injured or killed than do those in urban or suburban areas. One big factor is lower safety belt use on rural roadways.
That’s why [Organization Name] announced today they are joining with hundreds of other State and local law enforcement and highway safety officials across the Great Lakes region during the month of May for an aggressive “Click It or Ticket” mobilization to crack down on low safety belt use. Added enforcement emphasis will be placed on the State’s rural roadways during the first two weeks of May this year.
“Our job is to save lives, so we’re going to be out in force cracking down on those not wearing their safety belts – particularly on our rural roadways,” said [Local Law Enforcement Official]. “No more delays and no more excuses. Just remember ‘Click It or Ticket.’”
When worn correctly, safety belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent – and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and mini-vans.”
While overall safety belt use is clearly on the rise – up to a record 82 percent use nationally in 2005 from just 58 percent in 1994, there is still a significant percentage of Americans who do not regularly wear their safety belts—with rural motorists among those least likely to buckle up.
-- more --
Nationally, in 2005, only 79 percent of rural drivers and their passengers were observed wearing their safety belts compared to 81 percent for urban motorists and 83 percent among suburban motorists.
Moreover, according to NHTSA, pickup truck drivers, especially in rural areas, consistently have the lowest safety belt usage rates of all motorists. In 2005, the observed safety belt use rate in pickup trucks was only 73 percent compared to 83 percent in passenger cars and 85 percent in vans and SUVs.
This lack of safety belt use is deadly. In 2004, 68 percent of pickup truck drivers and 73 percent of pickup truck passengers who were killed in traffic crashes were not buckled up.
One of the deadliest causes in any vehicle crash comes when passengers get ejected from the vehicle – with most coming from failure to wear safety belts. In fact, 74 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were totally ejected from their vehicle in 2004 were killed. But only 1 in 100 drivers and passengers who were wearing their safety belts were totally ejected and killed.
“Only about a fifth of Americans live in rural areas, yet rural traffic fatalities accounted for 58 percent of the Nation’s total in 2004,” said [Local Official]. “Even more alarming, the motor vehicle crash fatality rate in rural areas is almost double the fatality rate in urban areas. That’s why we’re going to aggressively remind folks to always buckle up.”
[Local Official] said part of the danger to rural drivers comes from delayed recovery and emergency response along isolated roadways. But much of the danger also is due to excessive speed, increased alcohol use, vehicle rollovers and higher occupant ejection rates due to low safety belt use in rural areas.
“Too many people, especially those on our rural roadways, still take the attitude that it will never happen to me. But fatal crashes can and do happen every day. So this May, we will be out in force to remind everyone to buckle up,” said [Local Law Enforcement Official]. “We’d much rather write a thousand tickets than have to knock on one family’s door with the news that their loved one didn’t survive a crash because they weren’t wearing their safety belt.”
For more information, please visit www.greatlakesproject.org or www.buckleupamerica.org.
###
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GREAT LAKES RURAL ENFORCEMENT PLANNER SAMPLE DROP-IN ARTICLE Note: before filling in the names of the organization and the organization’s spokesperson, you MUST contact them to obtain their permission to use their names in this press release, and you must get their approval for the language of their quotations, and any changes or additions they may require. Only after this is done should you send out this drop-in article. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: [Date] CONTACT: [Name, Phone Number] |
“Click It or Ticket”
To Zero in on Rural Drivers This May
Law Enforcement Blitz to Boost Safety Belt Use
During 2004, [ ___ ] percent of [State Name’s] total traffic fatalities occurred on rural roadways.
In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the same pattern holds true nationally. Statistics show that Americans driving or riding on rural roadways face a much greater risk of being injured or killed than do those in urban or suburban areas. One big factor is lower safety belt use on rural roadways.
That’s why [Organization Name] announced today they are joining with hundreds of other State and local law enforcement and highway safety officials across the Great Lakes region during the month of May for an aggressive “Click It or Ticket” mobilization to crack down on low safety belt use. Added enforcement emphasis will be placed on the State’s rural roadways during the first two weeks of May this year.
“Our job is to save lives, so we’re going to be out in force cracking down on those not wearing their safety belts – particularly on our rural roadways,” said [Local Law Enforcement Official]. “No more delays and no more excuses. Just remember ‘Click It or Ticket.’”
When worn correctly, safety belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent – and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and mini-vans.”
While overall safety belt use is clearly on the rise – up to a record 82 percent use nationally in 2005 from just 58 percent in 1994, there is still a significant percentage of Americans who do not regularly wear their safety belts—with rural motorists among those least likely to buckle up.
-- more --
Nationally, in 2005, only 79 percent of rural drivers and their passengers were observed wearing their safety belts compared to 81 percent for urban motorists and 83 percent among suburban motorists.
Moreover, according to NHTSA, pickup truck drivers, especially in rural areas, consistently have the lowest safety belt usage rates of all motorists. In 2005, the observed safety belt use rate in pickup trucks was only 73 percent compared to 83 percent in passenger cars and 85 percent in vans and SUVs.
This lack of safety belt use is deadly. In 2004, 68 percent of pickup truck drivers and 73 percent of pickup truck passengers who were killed in traffic crashes were not buckled up.
One of the deadliest causes in any vehicle crash comes when passengers get ejected from the vehicle – with most coming from failure to wear safety belts. In fact, 74 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were totally ejected from their vehicle in 2004 were killed. But only 1 in 100 drivers and passengers who were wearing their safety belts were totally ejected and killed.
“Only about a fifth of Americans live in rural areas, yet rural traffic fatalities accounted for 58 percent of the Nation’s total in 2004,” said [Local Official]. “Even more alarming, the motor vehicle crash fatality rate in rural areas is almost double the fatality rate in urban areas. That’s why we’re going to aggressively remind folks to always buckle up.”
[Local Official] said part of the danger to rural drivers comes from delayed recovery and emergency response along isolated roadways. But much of the danger also is due to excessive speed, increased alcohol use, vehicle rollovers and higher occupant ejection rates due to low safety belt use in rural areas.
“Too many people, especially those on our rural roadways, still take the attitude that it will never happen to me. But fatal crashes can and do happen every day. So this May, we will be out in force to remind everyone to buckle up,” said [Local Law Enforcement Official]. “We’d much rather write a thousand tickets than have to knock on one family’s door with the news that their loved one didn’t survive a crash because they weren’t wearing their safety belt.”
For more information, please visit www.greatlakesproject.org or www.buckleupamerica.org.
###
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GREAT LAKES RURAL ENFORCEMENT PLANNER SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR 410 WORDS |
Dear Editor:
During 2004, [ ___ ] percent of [State Name’s] total traffic fatalities occurred on rural roadways.
In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the same pattern holds true nationally. Statistics show that Americans driving or riding on rural roadways face a much greater risk of being injured or killed than do those in urban or suburban areas. One big factor is lower safety belt use on rural roadways.
That’s why [Organization Name] is joining with hundreds of other State and local law enforcement and highway safety officials across the Great Lakes region during the month of May for an aggressive “Click It or Ticket” mobilization to crack down on low safety belt use.
When worn correctly, safety belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent – and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and mini-vans.
Nationally, in 2005, only 79 percent of rural drivers and their passengers were observed wearing their safety belts compared to 81 percent for urban motorists and 83 percent among suburban motorists.
Moreover, according to NHTSA, pickup truck drivers, especially in rural areas, consistently have the lowest safety belt usage rates of all motorists. In 2005, the observed safety belt use rate in pickup trucks was only 73 percent compared to 83 percent in passenger cars and 85 percent in vans and SUVs.
This lack of safety belt use is deadly. In 2004, 68 percent of pickup truck drivers and 73 percent of pickup truck passengers who were killed in traffic crashes were not buckled up.
Only about a fifth of Americans live in rural areas, yet rural traffic fatalities accounted for 58 percent of the Nation’s total in 2004. Even more alarming, the motor vehicle crash fatality rate in rural areas is almost double the fatality rate in urban areas. That’s why we’re going to aggressively remind folks to always buckle up.
Too many people, especially those on our rural roadways, still take the attitude that it will never happen to me. But fatal crashes can and do happen every day. So this May, we will be out in force to remind everyone to buckle up. We’d much rather write a thousand tickets than have to knock on one family’s door with the news that their loved one didn’t survive a crash because they weren’t wearing their safety belt.
Please remember. No more delays. No more excuses. Click It or Ticket.
Name, address and phone number. (The newspaper must have these to verify the identity of the sender, but won’t print the street address or phone number.)
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GREAT LAKES RURAL ENFORCEMENT PLANNER SAMPLE PROCLAMATION |
A Proclamation by the [Official Title]
[Community Name]
WHEREAS, the safety and security of the citizens of [Community Name] and surrounding areas are vitally important; and
WHEREAS, a large percentage of our citizens regularly drive or ride in motor vehicles on our roadways; and
WHEREAS, safety belts, when used properly and regularly, have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury in passenger car crashes by 45 percent – and in pickup trucks, SUVs and mini-vans by 60 percent; and
WHEREAS, the use of safety belts is supported by the laws of [STATE NAME];
NOW, THEREFORE, I, [NAME, TITLE, JURSIDICTION], do hereby proclaim and announce the month of May 2006 as “Click It or Ticket” Safety Belt Enforcement Month, and urge all citizens of our community and surrounding areas to always wear their safety belts when driving or riding on our roadways, now and in the future.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
I have hereunto set my hand on behalf of [Community Name].
_________________________
[Title, Jurisdiction]
_________________________
[Date]