Buckle Up America Week

Volume 5, Number 2 - Spring 2002

May 20-27, 2002, is Buckle Up America Week. This year NHTSA is encouraging participating organizations to bring the "buckle up" message to teenagers, especially those ages 16 through 18, who are at increased risk of injury or death in motor vehicle-related incidents. In addition, thousands of law enforcement agencies will participate in Operation ABC Mobilization, a campaign to actively enforce state seat belt and child passenger safety laws. They too will be on special alert for unbuckled teenage drivers and passengers.

The newest component of Buckle Up America Week is "Click It or Ticket," a high-visibility seat belt enforcement campaign supported by paid radio and television advertisements. When implemented in eight southeastern states last year, a nine percentage point increase in seat belt use was achieved.

A new planner is available to help you make the most of your efforts during Buckle Up America Week. The planner includes campaign materials specifically created for health and medical professionals, youth groups and youth advocates, law enforcement, and the faith community. These materials include fact sheets, resource lists, seat belt use survey forms, camera-ready art, presentations, talking points, school announcements, and press releases, most of which are offered in both English and Spanish. The planner is available from the Buckle Up America On-Line Headquarters (see below) or the NHTSA website www.nhtsa.dot.gov. A separate ABC Mobilization Law Enforcement Action Kit is available from the Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign website www.nsc.org/airbag.htm.

For additional information on Buckle Up America, e-mail buckleup@aed.org or send a fax to the attention of Buckle Up America at (202) 884-8752. The Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign can be reached by telephone at (202) 625-2570, by fax at (202) 822-1399, or by e-mail at airbag@nsc.org.

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