The North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program Released Staggering Results From 'Click It or Ticket's' Last Five Years

Announced its first-ever partnership with motor carrier companies to expand 'Click It or Ticket's' effectiveness through a mobile advertising campaign

RALEIGH, N.C., May 13 -- The state of North Carolina today released significant results from one of the state's longest running public awareness programs, while unveiling a new advertising campaign to expand the program's reach. The Governor's Highway Safety Program reported that nearly 2,500 fatalities and nearly 63,000 injuries were prevented through the last five years of "Click It or Ticket," the state's public awareness and enforcement campaign promoting safety belt utilization.

The state of North Carolina, which began "Click It or Ticket" in 1993, joined seven other southeast states in 2001 for an intensive seatbelt usage enforcement and mobilization campaign as part of a region wide effort to reduce the more than 18,000 fatalities nationwide, associated with occupant failure to buckle up. The program also sought to diminish the economic impact of automobile crashes, which totaled nearly $8.3 billion in 2000 alone.

The past five years of "Click It or Ticket" have produced significant results, including the prevention of nearly 2,500 fatalities and more than 62,000 serious injuries. The program is also estimated to have saved North Carolina more than $10 billion associated with emergency services, medical expenses, etc. In response to "Click It or Ticket's" success, the Governor's Highway Safety Program is launching a new mobile advertising campaign that will post 1,000 signs on motor carriers traveling North Carolina's roadways. This first-time partnership between the state and motor carrier companies provides an opportunity to build upon the positive example of safety belt usage by truckers and the very visible "billboards" of 18-wheelers.

"'Click It or Ticket' has been one of the longest running and most successful public awareness programs in North Carolina history," said Darrell Jernigan, director, North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program. "Its effectiveness set the bar for launching new programs like our mobile advertising partnership with local motor carrier companies, which we are sure will immediately reduce accidents and fatalities on North Carolina roadways," he said.

North Carolina's current safety belt usage rate is slightly more than 86 percent, which is well above the national average of 80 percent, in 2004. An additional 46 lives would be saved annually if the state could increase usage rates to 90 percent. And at that rate, an estimated 747 serious injuries would be prevented, resulting in an economic savings to the state of $91,388,896.

"The 'Click It or Ticket' campaign has been a cornerstone of our efforts to reduce injuries and fatalities on southeast roadways because wearing safety belts works, it's that simple," said Terry Schiavone, administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Southeast Region. "Research shows that the proper use of lap/shoulder belts reduces the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50 percent. And for light truck occupants, safety belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 60 percent and moderate to critical injury by 65 percent," he said.

The partnership, which will be the state's first mobile advertising campaign, is designed to increase seatbelt usage in the state, and lessen the human and economic impact of fatalities due to individuals who fail to buckle up by reinforcing the "Click It or Ticket" message in a unique and highly visible way.

"The motor carrier industry has been a steadfast champion for safety on southeast roadways and across the nation," said Duane Long, board chairman, North Carolina Trucking Association and president of Longistics. "We believe the mobile advertising 'Click It or Ticket' campaign will highlight the effectiveness of motor carrier companies who are increasing safety belt usage, while meeting the industry's and state's goal of diminishing accidents, fatalities and injuries on North Carolina highways," he said.