FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2003
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755
SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT ANNOUNCES INCREASED ENFORCEMENT WITH BUCKLE UP, SOUTH CAROLINA, MEMORIAL DAY CAMPAIGN
COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Department of Public Safety today announced that law enforcement officers, led by DPS, will be out in force statewide this weekend to prepare for one of the most deadly, heavily traveled weekends on South Carolina highways. Twelve people died over the Memorial Day weekend last year.
DPS also reminded motorists today to get registered to buckle up to win one of several prizes donated to DPS, including a Scout 175 Sportfish boat valued at $19,000 for the Buckle Up, South Carolina, campaign.
The public education portion of the campaign began last week with television public service announcements. The enforcement portion began this week and will run through June 1. Once again, officers will place their focus on “enforcement zones” or stretches of highway that are shown to have the highest number of fatal collisions. The primary killers on our nation’s highways include: failure to yield right of way, speeding, drinking and driving, and disregarding sign/signal.
This weekend begins the 100 deadly days of summer on South Carolina highways. Every year since 1998, South Carolina has averaged around 290 fatalities on South Carolina highways during that time period. That’s nearly three lives lost each day of summer.
Buckle Up, SC, campaign reminds motorists who are getting ready to head out for the weekend or will be traveling this summer that buckling up is the single most proactive step they can take toward keeping themselves and others safe in their vehicle in the event of a collision. A safety belt can save a motorist’s life or greatly reduce the severity of injuries in the event of a crash in a number of ways: by preventing ejection; by shifting crash forces to the strongest parts of the body’s structure; by spreading forces over a wide area of the body; by allowing the body to slow down gradually and by protecting the head and spinal cord.
“South Carolina is the only state where you can win a boat just for buckling up. All you have to do is pledge to wear your seat belt for a lifetime,” said DPS Office of Highway Safety Director Max Young at a morning news conference. “That makes you a winner in two ways. It will likely save your life in the event of a crash and it could make you the owner of a beautiful boat. That’s not a bad deal for something that takes mere seconds to do.”
The 175 Sportfish, donated by Scout Boats of Charleston, is just one of the prizes donated to the Buckle Up, SC, campaign. DPS has joined forces with private industry to raise awareness and encourage drivers to take the seat belt pledge and buckle up to win.
The Buckle Up, SC, campaign is offering motorists several ways to sign up to win: online at www.buckleupsc.com, at select Wal-Mart stores or other businesses listed on this web site or at one of the several boat stop registration events being held throughout the state.
When people register to win, they will be asked to place a Buckle Up, South Carolina, decal on their vehicle to show that they have taken the safety belt pledge and remind them and others to always buckle up. The drawing for the prizes will be held in Columbia on June 20.
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*** Please visit the Buckle Up, South Carolina, web site at www.buckleupsc.com or from the DPS site at www.scdps.org.