General Headquarters — Columbus, Ohio

 

For Immediate Release: August 28, 2003
Contact: Lt. Tony Bradshaw (614) 752-2792

 

‘What’s Holding You Back?’ enforcement continues over Labor Day weekend

COLUMBUS – This upcoming Labor Day weekend, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is continuing its commitment to the What’s Holding You Back? campaign and to zero tolerance safety belt enforcement. Additional troopers will patrol Ohio’s highways in an effort to save lives on this high-volume traffic weekend.

“You or someone you know may be involved in a car crash this year. Not wearing a safety belt increases the chances of being injured or killed by 50 percent,” Colonel Paul D. McClellan, Patrol superintendent said. “Wearing a safety belt is one of the most effective ways to save lives and reduce injuries on Ohio’s roadways.”

Earlier this summer, the Patrol partnered with 729 law enforcement agencies across Ohio in the largest high-visibility safety belt enforcement effort in Ohio history. Any driver who had an enforcement contact with the Patrol and was not wearing a safety belt was issued a citation.

According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, the What’s Holding You Back? campaign has contributed to a significant rise in safety belt usage in Ohio. Ohio’s current seat belt usage rate is 73.1 percent, up from 70.3 percent last year.

A total of 22 people were killed in 18 crashes on Ohio’s roadways over the 2002 Labor Day holiday weekend. Of the 22 people killed, 14 had safety belts available, but only four were wearing them at the time of the crash.

# # #

03-184

---