KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- For the past several years in Kansas nearly two-thirds of those killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts.
“How many people in those crashes would have lived if they would have been wearing their seat belt? How many families and friends would not have had to suffer such utter devastation?” Kansas Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Jerry Younger asked.
Younger spoke about improving safety as part of the national safety campaign Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day at a news conference at the Capitol today. The campaign strives to decrease traffic fatalities.
More than 120 members of Students Against Destructive Decisions from high schools across Kansas, as well as other transportation safety partners and law enforcement officials, attended the event.
Younger was joined by crash survivor Rachel Tharman, Lawrence Memorial Hospital Trauma Coordinator Kenna Young, and From the Land of Kansas Director Stacy Mayo. Afterwards, students participated in a quick click challenge to show how quickly and easily seat belts can be fastened.
Organizations that work together on the annual Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day campaign with KDOT include the Kansas Turnpike Authority, Kansas Highway Patrol, AAA of Kansas, Kansas Contractors Association, Kansas Family Partnership, Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office, Federal Highway Administration and the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers.
For more information on Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day, visit KDOT website.
