A Timely Reminder: Click It-
Local Agencies Show Unity in Telling the Public that Seat Belts Save Lives
Merced Police Chief Steve Stanfield, CHP captain Tony Domiguez , and County Sheriff Verne Warnke stand behind a gurney with their reminder of how dangerous a traffic collision can be if passengers are not wearing seat belts. Photo: CHP
Now, some sixty-five years after the motor vehicle safety belt was created by Volvo, seat belt use is still a challenge for area traffic enforcement officers.
“This is a highly preventable problem,” Communications Officer Eric Zuniga of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) says.
The CHP is so concerned about the declining use of the safety devices that they launched a public awareness campaign in late January.
Representatives from the Sheriff’s Department, Merced Police, other local police departments, the District Attorney, and even the Medical Examiner’s office were gathered in front of the Merced County Courthouse Museum in early January to be part of the campaign. The initiative includes the production of a Public Service Announcement (PSA) airing on social media right now.
Link to the Seat Belt Public Service Announcement:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/9492806734072149
CHP led the effort to create the PSA about seatbelt usage because they see the problem practically daily on the job.
Last month, when I pulled someone over to tell them they were not wearing their seatbelt,” Officer Zuniga recalls. “Their first reaction was, “Oh, I just forgot this time.”
Just about any police officer assigned to traffic duty has a similar story to tell.
Thousands of law enforcement agencies and safety advocacy groups have seat belt campaigns. This one from the New York City Taxi and Limousine Organization carries a simple message: Everybody, Every Seat. Photo: NYCTaxiLimo.com
Last year in California, of the fifty-six traffic fatalities recorded by local officials, about twenty percent happened in part because either a seat belt was not used or a seat restriction device such as a child seat was not appropriately secured.
In the past, CHP has partnered with Dignity/Merced Hospital and local schools to stage “seat belt stations,” where they helped parents understand how to secure a child seat in a car properly.
The awareness campaign, which Officer Zuniga says does not have a budget, has a slogan with just one crucial message: seat belts save lives.
Officer Zuniga has seen it for himself on the highways his organization patrols. He and his colleagues stand behind the message that not using a seat belt can be life or death.
“We’re all in the business of saving lives.”
CHP used its staff to coordinate the shooting of the safety belt public service announcement. This scene was shot in front of the Merced Courthouse Museum. Photo: Steve Newvine
The invention of the modern-day seat belt by Volvo back in 1959 was given to the company’s competitors in the interest of safety.
This CHP seat belt campaign, bringing together all the police agencies throughout the County, hopes to drive home the message that safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Steve Newvine lives in Merced.
His California books are available for purchase at the Merced County Courthouse Museum and Bookish Modesto at the Roseburg Square Shopping Center, 811 W Roseburg Avenue in Modesto,. His latest book Jack & Johnny: Benny, Carson and a Friendship Made for Television, is available there as well, or it can be ordered at Jack & Johnny (lulu.com)
He recently discussed his new book on the podcast Talking About Radio with John Leslie. That podcast dropped the weekend of January 18-19 and is available wherever you get your podcasts.