BRIDGEVILLE, Pa., May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor Ridge signed a
proclamation dedicating the week of May 22 - 29, 2000 Buckle Up Pennsylvania
Week.  The safety of all Pennsylvania motorists is an ongoing issue.  The
commonwealth has more than 100,000 miles of state and local roadways, which
make up a safe, convenient and efficient transportation system.
    Traffic crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States.
Wearing seat belts is the easiest and most effective way of cutting highway
deaths.  All vehicle occupants should buckle up.  Air bags are used to
complement seat belts for additional protection during a crash.  Air bags are
not meant to be used alone.  Child Passenger safety seats should be used
correctly and consistently.  Parents should place children in the rear seat
whenever possible.  Never place a rear facing infant seat in front of an air
bag.  Seat belts need to be worn correctly by having the shoulder belt over
the collarbone and away from the neck, the lap belt portion should fit over
the upper thighs and below the abdomen.
    "Everyone pays the higher health care and insurance costs that result from
unbelted or improperly belted drivers and passengers involved in crashes.  On
average, hospital care costs for an unbelted driver are 50 percent higher than
those for a driver who was wearing a seatbelt.  The combination of
lap/shoulder seat belts, when used, reduces the risk to front seat passenger
car occupants by 45 percent and of Moderate-to-critical injury by
50 percent.  Crashes are particularly hard on unbuckled children.  In a
30 mile-per-hour crash, a child riding unrestrained is hit with a force
equivalent to falling from a third story window.
    Sadly, adults who don't buckle up are sending children a deadly message
that it is all right not to use seat belts.  Research shows that when a driver
is unbuckled, 70 percent of the time children in that vehicle will not be
buckled either.
    Chances are someone you know will be involved in a car crash this year.
If they are unbuckled, they are 50 percent more likely to be injured or
killed.
    During this week, the U.S. Department of Transportation will be leading a
nationwide effort to promote safety and focus attention on the importance of
buckling your family and yourself in any motor vehicle.
    In recognition of the importance of the safety to Pennsylvanians on our
highways, Governor Ridge encourages all motorists to safeguard themselves,
their families and fellow drivers.
    Buckle up Every Time - What do you have to hold on to?

Link to this page: