FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office of the Governor
November 1, 2001
Contact:  Rusty Cheuvront or Terri Giltner (502) 564-2611 

Governor Patton Announces Highway Safety Coalition to Promote Seat Belts  

Lexington, Ky. – Governor Paul E. Patton announced at his annual Highway Safety Summit today a coalition consisting of public and private organizations to help promote highway safety throughout the state.  The first task of the group will be to lead an educational effort promoting the use of seat belts.

“Seat belts and child safety seats are the most effective means of reducing deaths and injuries due to car crashes”, said Governor Patton.  “We lost 823 loved ones on Kentucky roads last year and at least half were not wearing their seat belts.”

The Governor named Commissioner Dale Shrout of the Department for Motor Vehicle Regulation and Commissioner Ishmon Burks of the Kentucky State Police as the Co-Chairs of the Coalition.

The twenty-eight Coalition members include Tricon Global Corporation – parent company of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, the Kroger Company, State Farm Insurance, League of Cities, Kentucky Association of County Officials, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Kentucky Medical Association, Kentuckians for Better Transportation, Kentucky Motor Transportation Association, Valvoline, Area Bancshares Corporation,  Kentucky Hospital Association, Governor’s Office of Highway Safey, AAA, Kentucky Consulting Engineering Council, Drive Smart Kentucky, UPS, Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers, Ford Motor Company – Louisville Assembly Plant and the Kentucky Truck Plant, Area Development Districts, Kentucky Nurses Association, Houchens Industries, Camping World, Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors, Kentucky Sheriffs Association, Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police, Kentucky State District Council of Carpenters and the Kentucky Alliance for Motor Vehicle Safety.

Governor Patton also introduced the launch of a six month public awareness campaign entitled, “Buckle Up, Kentucky,” that will use radio and television ads along with billboards to encourage Kentuckians to buckle up when they are in their vehicles.

Kentucky ranks low compared to the nation in seat belt usage with roughly only 60% of drivers buckling up compared to 71% nationally.  It is estimated that a 10 to 15% increase in seat belt usage would save 70 – 75 lives annually.

“We need to change the culture of our roads in this state,” stated the Governor.  “In order to do this we must attack this issue on several fronts that include legislation, enforcement and education.  The passage of a primary seat belt law would address the first two.  This Coalition and the public awareness campaign will address the education component.” 

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