The Rhode Island Department of Transportation and the cities of Warwick and Cranston will kick off "Reach Across, Avoid the Loss" - a community-based campaign to reduce deaths and serious injuries from unbelted crashes in suburban areas.
WHAT: State and local officials will discuss the new campaign, which is being funded by a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Rhode Island was one of only two states to receive the grant, along with Illinois.
WHEN: Tuesday, July 2, from 10-11 a.m.
WHERE: Community College of Rhode Island Knight Campus, 400 East Ave., Warwick. The press conference will be in the President's Conference Room on the fourth floor, Room 4090.
DIRECTIONS: From I-95 North, take Exit 11 to I-295, then Exit 1 to Route 113 West. From I-95 South, take Exit 12B and bear left at the fork to Route 113 West. The campus will be on your left.
BACKGROUND: Rather than relying solely on enforcement efforts, officers in Cranston and Warwick will conduct community outreach over the next five months to determine which strategies work best to increase seat belt use. These efforts include attending community events, using social media and working with local businesses to reward drivers and passengers who are doing the right thing by buckling up. Wearing a seat belt increases your chance of surviving a crash by nearly 50 percent, and it is your best defense against distracted, reckless or drunk drivers. Rhode Island recently passed a permanent primary seat belt law to protect drivers and reduce the number of people killed each year on our roadways. For more information, visit www.dot.ri.gov.
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Contact: Rose Amoros 401-222-1362 x4450