(Host) Vermont highway safety officials announced on Monday that for the first time in over 50 years the state has recorded a month with no traffic fatalities. The last time this happened was in 1951.
Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Chuck Satterfield is surprised that the event took place in May because of increased driving associated with Memorial Day weekend. Satterfield believes increased seat belt usage is largely responsible for the fatality free month:
(Satterfield) “Most important, people are buckling up. It has a real impact on whether or not people survive a car crash and it greatly reduces the severity of injury. If you’re wearing a seat belt you’re much more likely to stay in control of your vehicle. And if you stay in control, you’re much more likely to have a less severe crash.”
(Host) Satterfield believes the success of last year’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign is continuing to show benefits for the state. Satterfield says the campaign resulted in more than 115,000 additional Vermonters choosing to comply with the state’s mandatory seat belt law.