Patrol initiates new traffic safety campaign

Nevada Daily Mail

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is planning a special traffic safety campaign for 2008. Titled, "I'm saving lives. Help Wanted," this campaign's focus is on safety and reducing the number of traffic fatalities in Missouri. In 2006, Missouri led the nation when it experienced a 13 percent decrease in traffic deaths for that year.

"Traffic deaths continue to decline in Missouri," said Colonel James F. Keathley. "Thus far in 2007, 12 percent fewer people have been killed on Missouri roadways compared to the same time period in 2006. The current goal in traffic fatality reduction is 'less than 1,000 traffic fatalities in 2008'." The key message of the "I'm saving lives. Help Wanted." campaign is that troopers are saving lives on Missouri's roads, and we want motorists to help in our effort.

Wear seat belts

The wearing of seat belts by drivers and passengers in vehicles is one of the best ways to prevent death and personal injury when involved in a traffic crash. The state of Missouri has recognized the benefit seat belt usage has on reducing traffic crash deaths and injuries through the passage of infant restraint, booster seat, and adult seat belt laws in recent years. The effectiveness of using restraint devices become apparent when considering the following 2006 traffic crash data: A driver of an automobile, van, motor home, or truck had a 1 in 4 chance of being injured if they were not wearing a seat belt. However if they were wearing a seat belt their chance of being injured was 1 in 8. It is more dramatic when examining driver deaths. A driver had a 1 in 31 chance of being killed if they were not wearing a seat belt. And in those cases where the driver wore a seat belt their chance of being killed was 1 in 1,300.

Pay attention when you're driving.

Driver inattention continues to be the leading contributing circumstance to traffic crashes in Missouri. A total of 232 people were killed and 12,421 were injured in 2006 Missouri traffic crashes where driver inattention was listed as a contributing circumstance. Driver inattention can be attributed to the following:

* Drinking and eating;

* Changing a radio station or CD;

* Talking or texting on a cellular phone;

* Reading, computer equipment;

* Interacting with a passenger;

* Grooming;

* other activity that takes any attention away from the full-time job of driving.

Avoid drinking and driving.

A total of 273 people were killed and 5,157 people were injured in 2006 in Missouri drinking-related traffic crashes. Even though the numbers have decreased since the 1980s, driving while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs continues to be one of the top three contributing circumstances to Missouri traffic crashes. The Patrol has and will continue to conduct special enforcement operations targeting impaired drivers. The Patrol is dedicated to saving lives and making our roadways safer, and this type of enforcement operation obviously helps us meet that goal.

Obey the speed limit.

Speed is a significant contributing factor in Missouri's traffic crash experience, especially as it relates to crashes involving death and injury.

A total of 454 persons were killed and 13,919 were injured in 2006 in Missouri speed-related traffic crashes. These totals include those crashes where exceeding the speed limit and speed too fast for the conditions were involved. Troopers continually enforce the speed limit laws of our state and the Patrol also conducts special enforcement operations targeting speeding vehicles, including commercial vehicles.

These special enforcement operations are also conducted in construction zones, where exceeding the speed limit is dangerous for the workers as well as the drivers. In many of the crashes, inattention and speed are both indicated as contributing circumstances. We ask that drivers obey all traffic laws and to pay close attention to those signs, which indicate a decrease in the speed limits.

Be a courteous driver.

No matter how many laws are passed by our legislature, courtesy still plays an important role in safety on our roads. Whether it is taking your turn at a four-way stop, allowing a car to merge into traffic from a side road, or always yielding to the other vehicle, a little courtesy will go a long way in traffic safety. State law requires the use of turn signals when making a right or left turn and when changing lanes. By following this law it also allows those vehicles around you to know your intentions. This can be perceived as a courtesy gesture by other drivers possibly avoiding aggressive driving or road rage incidents.

"The keys to traffic safety are the four Es: Enforcement, Education, Emergency, and Engineering.," said Colonel Keathley. "The Patrol is focusing its efforts on Enforcement and Education. We're asking all Missouri drivers to please join us."

Currently, the new "Help Wanted" bumper stickers are being placed on all MSHP vehicles statewide to promote the campaign.