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Idaho
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Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
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Campaign strives for zero traffic fatalities
Sunday
(Oct. 10) designated as 'Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day'
Imagine one day with zero traffic deaths. That is what
safety officials are asking Americans to do as part of the “Put
the Brakes on Fatalities Day” safety campaign, observed annually
on Oct. 10.
After a steady 20-year decline, the number of traffic fatalities in
America increased to 43,005 in 2003. That equals about 116 fatalities
every day, or one fatality every 13 minutes.
“This Sunday (Oct. 10) is singled out for drawing attention to safety on the roads,” says Lance Johnson of ITD’s Office of Traffic and Highway Safety. “However, a traffic crash can take a life any day of the week, any month of the year.”
The good news is that by taking pro-active steps, people can greatly reduce the odds of becoming a statistic, Johnson adds.
"First and foremost, drive as if your life depends on it," Johnson said. "Wear your seat belt, obey speed limits, wear a helmet if you ride a motorcycle, slow down in construction and school zones, and drive sober.”
Other important safety practices to protect your passengers and others include using appropriate child safety seats, using crosswalks and wearing a helmet when cycling or skating.
"Traffic fatalities are the leading cause of death for all Americans from 6 to 33 years of age. Whether as a driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist, we each can make a difference to help stop the tragedy of losing loved ones on our nation's roads," he said.
Last year, 26,700 crashes were reported in Idaho, resulting
in 293 deaths, an 11 percent increase from 2002.
Put the Brakes on Fatalities offers these safety reminders:
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Slow down. In Idaho, speed was among the top causes for traffic collisions in 2003. In single-vehicle collisions, speed was a contributing factor in one of every three cases; in multiple-vehicle collisions, 6 percent involved speeding.
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Buckle up. Everyone needs to use proper safety restraints, especially teens. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 16-20 year olds, and teens have the highest death rate of any age group. Although driving inexperience and high-risk behavior play a role in this, a major reason for the high death rate among teens is failure to use seat belts. Of the 5,240 teens killed nationally in 2003, two-thirds weren't buckled up, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In Idaho, the law requires everyone in a car to be buckled up.
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Check your car. Proper vehicle maintenance plays an important role in reducing crashes. Check your tires for proper inflation pressure, tread wear and alignment. Winterize your vehicle if you live in a cold climate. Replace worn windshield wipers. If your vehicle has antilock brakes, operate them correctly by "stomping and steering" rather than pumping them. If you are buying a vehicle, consider safety devices and safety ratings as a top priority.
Check out the NHTSA Web site at www.nhsta.dot.gov for vehicle safety ratings.For more traffic safety tips and information, see the “Put The Brakes On Fatalities Day” web site at www.brakesonfatalites.org .