Buckle-Up for a Safer Memorial Day Weekend

As part of the Spring 2007 " Click It or Ticket" Mobilization, the Massachusetts State Police will conduct additional traffic enforcement utilizing 420 extra patrols working to increase safety belt use and encourage safer driving during the Memorial Day Weekend period.

"It is evident that safety belts are the best way to reduce the risk of death or serious injury to the occupants of motor vehicles involved in crashes in the Commonwealth." stated Colonel Mark F. Delaney of the Massachusetts State Police.

Coordinated in Massachusetts by the Executive Office of Public Safety, the Spring 2007 " Click It or Ticket" Mobilization runs from May 14 ^th to June 3 ^rd. With $1.3 million in federal highway safety funds, the Executive Office of Public Safety will conduct this mobilization in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Police and more than 230 local police departments.

This funding will assist the Massachusetts State Police and local police departments to encourage statewide safety belt compliance. Currently, the safety belt use compliance rate in Massachusetts is 67% as compared to 81% nationwide.

For viewing of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's " Click It or Ticket" Mobilization video, please view the following link:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/buckleup/ciot-planner/planner07/LEAK/video.htm

For more information, go to www.mass.gov/ghsb.

###

www.mass.gov/msp

Dial 911 on your Cell Phone for all Roadway Emergencies