DPS: Many commuters still not buckling up

There are still too many people driving and riding cars and other vehicles in the CNMI who don’t buckle up, according to the Department of Public Safety.

During the “Buckle Up in Your Truck” proclamation signing yesterday, the DPS acknowledged that “far too many drivers and passengers in the CNMI still do not buckle up despite the heightened educational campaign being conducted by the department.”

This, even as authorities warned that pickup trucks involved in fatal crashes “roll over twice as often as passenger cars.”

By wearing a safety belt, the risk of dying in a rollover crash is reduced by up to 80 percent.

On Saipan, DPS said, recent surveys show a “74 percent [safety belt] usage rate by travelers on the highways and bi-ways.”

The DPS said that, when ranked by specific age, motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death in the U.S. for ages three to 33.

In a Click It or Ticket Mobilization proclamation signing at the Governor’s Office yesterday, the DPS cited that in 2003, 59 percent of all 18 to 34 years old passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes were not wearing safety belts.

The economic cost of police-reported crashes in 2003 involving 15 to 20 years old was about $40.8 billion, DPS said.

Lap/shoulder safety belts, when used, reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45 percent for front-seat passenger, and 50 percent of moderate critical injury.

DPS said that between 1975 and 2000, safety belts prevented 135 fatalities and 3.8 million injuries, saving $585 billion in medical and other costs.

If all vehicles occupants had used seat belts during that period, nearly 315,000 deaths and $5.2 million injuries could have been prevented and $913 million in costs saved.

In another proclamation signed by Gov. Juan N. Babauta yesterday—“Buckle Up America, Buckle Up CNMI Week”—authorities aim to forge broad, community-based partnerships to increase the proper use of seat belts and child safety seats to 90 percent by the end of 2005.

“Increasing seat belt use is still the most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries in crashes on our roadways,” said Babauta in the proclamation.

Hospital care costs for unbuckled crash victims are 50 percent higher than for those who buckled up; 85 percent of these costs “are borne by society, signifying the degree to which we all pay for unsecured passengers.”

Increasing the safety belt use from 68 percent to 90 percent would help prevent an estimated 5,536 fatalities and 13,2670 injuries nationwide

Child fatalities would be reduced by 25 percent resulting in $8.8 billion savings annually.

The proclamation cited that based on research, 70 percent of the time, children are not buckled up in a vehicle when the driver is unbuckled.

“We must support and encourage law enforcement agencies in their efforts to promote and visibly enforce compliance of the CNMI seat belt and child safety seat laws, thus saving lives, reducing injuries, and saving CNMI taxpayer money,” said the governor.

Buckle Up America and Buckle Up CNMI week will be held from May 24 to 31, 2005 while the 2005 Click It or Ticket Mobilization is from May 23 to June 5, 2005.

In yesterday’s ceremony, the governor also signed separate proclamations declaring Police Week from May 8 to 15, Emergency Medical Services for Children Day on May 18, 2005 and EMS Week from May 15 to May 21, 2005.

The governor, in the proclamation, said that EMS is a vital public service, whose staff are ready to provide lifesaving care 24 hours a day.

In 2004, there were some 7,001 EMS runs in the CNMI, he said.

EMS for children is “a community-based public service whose presence is vital to children in need.”

Last year, there were 1,030 runs for pediatric and adolescent to the Commonwealth Health center for medical attention.

“The needs of children are different from adults in medical emergencies. It [children support] promotes high-level care requiring pediatric emergency skills,” part of the resolution reads.

The EMS system consists of emergency dispatchers, physicians, nurses, medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, educators, administrators, and others.

In 1974, then President Gerald Ford signed the first official National Emergency Medical Services Week to recognize the accomplishment of men and women who dedicate themselves to saving the lives of others.