Utah Department of Public Safety

Crash Every 8 Minutes – the Time to Buckle Up is Now

For Immediate Release:                                                                                                            

With a Crash Every Eight Minutes, The Time to Buckle Up is Now

As Click It or Ticket enforcement kicks off, nine-year-old racecar driver joins law enforcement to remind Utahns to buckle up

WHAT: Every eight minutes – that’s how often there was a motor vehicle crash in Utah in 2015. Someone was injured in a crash every 20 minutes. With AAA estimating that Americans spend 17,600 minutes driving each year, the numbers add up to drivers facing a high risk of being involved in a crash. Law enforcement officers will be joined by nine-year-old Bandolero racecar driver Tuscan Nuccitelli as they emphasize the importance of always buckling up.

Law enforcement agencies throughout the state will participate in the national Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign, increasing seat belt patrols from Monday, May 22^nd until Sunday, June 4^th. They’ll be stopping and issuing tickets to drivers and passengers who aren’t wearing their seat belts.

The Utah Department of Public Safety’s Click It or Ticket Campaign is conducted in partnership with the Utah Department of Transportation and Zero Fatalities Program. It is a high visibility enforcement campaign that involves law enforcement agencies statewide. Visit http://clickitutah.org for more information on Utah’s seat belt laws.

WHEN: Thursday, May 18th 10 a.m.

WHERE: Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division Test Track,

2780 West 4700 South,West Valley City. **The track is located off 2700 West, directly

across from the Calvin Rampton Building .** Enter from 2700 West or through the

parking lot of the DLD office.

WHO:

• Chief Lee Russo, West Valley City Police Department
• Sgt. Nick Nuccitelli, Santa Clara-Ivins Police Department
• Tuscan Nuccitelli, nine-year-old race car driver

VISUALS:

•  Tuscan Nuccitelli’s Bandolero race car
• Police vehicles from multiple agencies
• Display of posters highlighting the frequency of crashes and showing seat belt saves
• Race clock

 WHY: Nearly one third (80) of the 281 people killed in fatal collisions last year on Utah roads and highways were not restrained. Buckling up is one of the most effective things people can do to protect themselves in a crash. Seat belts reduce the risk of injury and death by about 50% when used correctly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The seat belt use rate among motor vehicle occupants was 87.9% in Utah in 2016, which means there are approximately 362,000 Utahns who still drive unbuckled.

 CONTACT:

Helen Knipe, Utah Department of Public Safety

801-520-5074         hknipe@utah.gov