Buckle Up Campaign In Force Through Holiday Weekend

    RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 31 North Carolina law enforcement
officers will be stepping up enforcement of seat belt and child passenger
safety laws during the Labor Day travel period to reduce the number of crash-
related deaths and injuries.

    Last year, 13 people died in traffic crashes during the holiday weekend.
More than a dozen lives have been lost annually during this period since 1996.

    "Not all crashes can be prevented, but the number of serious and fatal
injuries could be reduced significantly if motorists buckled up on each and
every trip," said Don Nail, acting director of the Governor's Highway Safety
Program.  "Law enforcement officers will be paying particular attention to
unrestrained drivers and passengers, especially young children, as part of the
ongoing 'Click It or Ticket' campaign."

    "Click It or Ticket" was launched with a statewide event Monday in Durham.
A survey conducted after the spring campaign showed the driver seat belt use
rate increased to 83.6 percent, one of the highest rates in the nation.

    North Carolina law requires drivers and front seat passengers to buckle
up.  Children up to age 16 must use age-appropriate restraints no matter where
they ride in the vehicle.  Children up to age 5 and weighing less than 40
pounds must ride in a correctly installed safety seat -- in the back seat, if
the vehicle has an active passenger-side airbag.

    Media Alert: GHSP Acting Director Don Nail will be available at these Week
2 checkpoints and child passenger safety clinics.

    Tuesday, September 4

    Winston-Salem: 10-11 a.m.
    2500 block Reynolds Rd. at Maple Springs Church
    Contact: Lt. Steve Newsome, 336-773-7846

    Lenoir: 4-5 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Road, Hudson
    Contact: Capt. Tim Marley, 828-759-1547

    Wednesday, September 5

    Asheville: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
    Amboy Road at French Broad River Park
    Contact: Ofc. Marty Wilson, 828-259-5870)
    NOTE: 11 a.m. press event regarding Buncombe County's low seat belt use
    rate will precede checkpoint.  Speakers include Asheville Police Chief
    Will Annarino and Paula Bryson of Western NC Safe Kids.

    Shelby: 4-5 p.m.
    South DeKalb St. at NC 18 South
    Contact: J.C. Sanders, 828-259-5870

    Thursday, September 6

    Charlotte: 10-11 a.m.
    3200 block of Shamrock Dr. near Eastway Dr.
    Contact: Capt. Denise Bridges, 704-336-4197

    Albemarle: 4-5 p.m.
    NE Connector at Centerview Baptist Church
    Contact: Sgt. Kent Myers, 704-986-3733

    Friday, September 7

    Rockingham: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
    Long Drive at FirstHealth Richmond Memorial
    Contact: Maj. Gerald Sellars, 910-582-2551
    NOTE: 11 a.m. press event regarding Richmond County's low seat belt use
    rate will precede checkpoint.  Speakers include Hamlet Police Major Gerald
    Sellers and Dr. Zeidan F. Zeidan of FirstHealth.

    Fayetteville: 4-5 p.m.
    Legion Road at Riddles Stadium
    Contact: F/Sgt. W.D. Stallings, 910-486-1334