Missouri Coalition For Roadway Safety
Greetings Fellow Members of the State Action Team,
Yesterday, 11/14/06, I attended a Seatbelt and Safety Summit in Columbia, MO. The purpose of this gathering was to create plans to promote making Missouri a Primary Seatbelt State. We are trying to reach as many people as possible with this message, and if enough constituents show support to their state legislatures, we can make this dream become a reality. Making Missouri a primary seatbelt state means that if enacted, it would be a primary offense for not wearing a seatbelt.
By enacting such legislation, we can reap economic benefits and also significantly reduce traffic fatalities. Missouri on the average has 73-76% of all those on the road wearing seatbelts. This is in the bottom 1/3rd of the nation. If primary seatbelt legislation were passed by both legislative houses in Missouri, the National Safety Commissions maintain that we would have an average increase of at least 10% more people wearing seatbelts within our state, equating to 90 lives saved a year. While 73-76% of all those driving motor vehicles wear seatbelts statewide, our age bracket, 16-19 years of age, has the lowest seatbelt usage percentiles, a little over 50%. This is disturbing to me and I hope that we can work towards a change. As a demographic, we need to realize that we are not invincible and that by taking an additional 5 seconds out of our time to click the seatbelt, we can consequently save our life. I cannot tell you how many speakers I heard yesterday sharing tragic stories where individuals either were ejected from vehicles or worse, when a seatbelt could have prevented it. Of course, on the other side, there are many instances where seatbelts have saved lives and those people are very gracious to be with us today.
I strongly encourage all DVPs, State Executive Officers and Advisors visit the following website.
http://www.savemolives.com/
Write to your legislative representatives, maybe even distribute promotional materials within individual districts. This website contains information on how to get absolutely free promotional materials, including: pamphlets, dvds, posters, etc (you must order a minimum of 300 of each though I believe).
On a more local level, I wanted to inform you all on the progress of "Click For Glik". After receiving some skepticism regarding the program, that it was too particular to an individual, and people didn't really know who "Charlie Glik" was, we have begun a transitioning of the program. The Program is now entitled "Click For Glik / iClick: Starting A Revolution". There is a new t-shirt design with artwork that is in the process of being finalized now. These shirts will be affiliated closely with Missouri DECA, including a logo or reference somewhere prominent on the shirt. In addition, they will be more personalized to the schools. Schools will have the option to order the shirt specialized to their school colors. The same t-shirt design will be printed with the t-shirt color and font color of your chapter's choice. iClick will hopefully be more recognizable to our cause, Seatbelt and Safety Awareness. I will be contacting each of you shortly with more information. Thanks in advance for your support!
Sincerely,
Tony Digrispino
Yesterday, 11/14/06, I attended a Seatbelt and Safety Summit in Columbia, MO. The purpose of this gathering was to create plans to promote making Missouri a Primary Seatbelt State. We are trying to reach as many people as possible with this message, and if enough constituents show support to their state legislatures, we can make this dream become a reality. Making Missouri a primary seatbelt state means that if enacted, it would be a primary offense for not wearing a seatbelt.
By enacting such legislation, we can reap economic benefits and also significantly reduce traffic fatalities. Missouri on the average has 73-76% of all those on the road wearing seatbelts. This is in the bottom 1/3rd of the nation. If primary seatbelt legislation were passed by both legislative houses in Missouri, the National Safety Commissions maintain that we would have an average increase of at least 10% more people wearing seatbelts within our state, equating to 90 lives saved a year. While 73-76% of all those driving motor vehicles wear seatbelts statewide, our age bracket, 16-19 years of age, has the lowest seatbelt usage percentiles, a little over 50%. This is disturbing to me and I hope that we can work towards a change. As a demographic, we need to realize that we are not invincible and that by taking an additional 5 seconds out of our time to click the seatbelt, we can consequently save our life. I cannot tell you how many speakers I heard yesterday sharing tragic stories where individuals either were ejected from vehicles or worse, when a seatbelt could have prevented it. Of course, on the other side, there are many instances where seatbelts have saved lives and those people are very gracious to be with us today.
I strongly encourage all DVPs, State Executive Officers and Advisors visit the following website.
http://www.savemolives.com/
Write to your legislative representatives, maybe even distribute promotional materials within individual districts. This website contains information on how to get absolutely free promotional materials, including: pamphlets, dvds, posters, etc (you must order a minimum of 300 of each though I believe).
On a more local level, I wanted to inform you all on the progress of "Click For Glik". After receiving some skepticism regarding the program, that it was too particular to an individual, and people didn't really know who "Charlie Glik" was, we have begun a transitioning of the program. The Program is now entitled "Click For Glik / iClick: Starting A Revolution". There is a new t-shirt design with artwork that is in the process of being finalized now. These shirts will be affiliated closely with Missouri DECA, including a logo or reference somewhere prominent on the shirt. In addition, they will be more personalized to the schools. Schools will have the option to order the shirt specialized to their school colors. The same t-shirt design will be printed with the t-shirt color and font color of your chapter's choice. iClick will hopefully be more recognizable to our cause, Seatbelt and Safety Awareness. I will be contacting each of you shortly with more information. Thanks in advance for your support!
Sincerely,
Tony Digrispino
posted by Anonymous at 6:49 PM
2 Comments:
Our Team Spirit group from HHS went down and talked to the legislature last year, we even talked to Rachel Bringer...it will be hard to get this passed since not too many people really realize how great it is...i support u 100% CaSsY
My Dad, the MODOT Head for NW Missouri, and I support you 100%! I will try to put pressure on the legislature through the use of my dad. Good luck the rest of the year
Steve
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