MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
A Division Of The
Department of Public Safety
Public Information and Education Division - PO Box 568 - Jefferson City, MO 65102
NEWS RELEASE
For further information please contact: Capt. J. Tim Hull
852014 (573) 526-6115

August 5, 2014
EMPHASIS: MSHP Releases Drive To Save Lives PSAs

Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol announces that public service announcements for the ‘Drive To Zero Highway Deaths’ campaign are now available. The public service announcements are 30 seconds or 60 seconds in length and include officers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Alabama Highway Patrol, Illinois State Police, Indiana State Police, Kansas Highway Patrol, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and Texas Department of Public Safety. The first public service announcement stresses the importance of paying attention while driving, obeying the speed limit, driving sober and making sure everyone in your vehicle is properly restrained. The second public service announcement deals with the move over law and emphasizes the importance of moving over or slowing down when approaching stationary emergency vehicles. The public service announcements can be viewed on the Patrol's web site. Visit www.mshp.dps.mo.gov and select the "video library" link halfway down the right side of the page, or click on this link: http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/VideoLibrary/videos.html. The PSAs may be downloaded from that page.

Missouri experienced 757 traffic fatalities in 2013. This is a 39 percent decrease from the 1,257 fatalities recorded in 2005. Over the past seven years, with the exception of 2012's slight increase, the number of traffic deaths has dropped each year. Historically, this past year is only the second time (2011 being the first) since 1949 that Missouri has experienced less than 800 traffic fatalities. Of the 758 people killed in traffic crashes in 2013, 63% of those required to be restrained were not at the time of the crash. Thus far for 2014, Missouri is experiencing a one percent increase in highway deaths compared to the same time period in 2013.

The Drive To Zero Highway Deaths campaign is part of the International Chiefs of Police national effort to reduce traffic deaths. In support of the Drive To ZERO Highway Deaths campaign, the Patrol encourages motorists to protect themselves and their passengers by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Watercraft operators should ensure that everyone in the vessel is wearing an approved life jacket. Click It 4 Life and Wear It!!

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