Three state agencies will be side-by-side this summer, hoping to get Georgia citizens to make this a “Summer of Safety” on the highways and waterways from Ringgold to St. Mary’s, Mountain City to Bainbridge and all points in between.
The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division and the Georgia Department of Public Safety are already pushing the messages that wearing seat belts and life jackets, obeying traffic and boating laws and signs, and staying sober, whether operating a boat or a car, are the keys to staying safe.
“It is up to you (the public) to buckle on that life jacket, buckle up that seat belt and stay sober if you are behind the wheel, any wheel,” said Col. Eddie Henderson, director of DNR’s Law Enforcement Division. “So far this year on Georgia waters, we unfortunately have already had ten boating fatalities, only two short of last year’s total. Our goal with this ‘Summer of Safety’ campaign is to stop that trend.”
GOHS Director Harris Blackwood knows that education and enforcement are the catalysts in getting people to think about safety, but it will only work if individuals make good choices.
“With the help of the public, we can truly make this a Summer of Safety. The simple, proactive things, like using safety devices, will result in fewer injuries and fatalities,” he said.
Obviously, educated and law-compliant citizens are always preferable to heightened enforcement measures but state troopers and rangers will do what is necessary to make sure everyone gets through the summer safely.
“State Troopers and motor carrier officers will be focused on seat belt and occupant protection violations, not only throughout this campaign, but throughout the year,” stated Colonel Mark W. McDonough, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety. “During the first quarter of this year, the Department of Public Safety realized a 25 percent increase in fatalities and fatality crashes where 62 percent of the victims were unrestrained. Those numbers are alarming and unacceptable to us. Through education and enforcement we hope to change driver behavior and reverse this trend.”
The “Summer of Safety” will include several promotional and fun events between Memorial Day and Labor Day to engage the public and to reinforce the messages. Those events will be announced as the summer progresses.
A number of partners, outside of state government have signed on to assist including, Team Georgia-A Safe and Sober Driving Coalition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and Georgia Power.
For more information, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org, www.gadnrle.com, or www.dps.georgia.gov.
