traffic enforcement PROGRAMS 

 

RADAR SPEED MONITOR

If you would like to have the speed monitor deployed in your neighborhood, please email us at: SPEED MONITOR.   Please suggest a location near your house where the unit can be secured and a direction of vehicular traffic you believe is most problematic.  Also, please provide your contact information in the email.

The GHSB's Click It or Ticket Campaign is made possible through grant funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Learn more about the NHTSA's efforts to increase safety belt, booster seat, and child safety seat use through its Buckle Up America Campaign.

The Massachusetts campaign was started in the fall of 2002. It is based on a successful national model developed by NHTSA that involves two to three week "mobilization" period of high-visibility traffic enforcement, paid and earned media, and community education.

The low use of safety belts was a major factor in the 441 fatalities and approximately 5,000 serious injuries and $6.3 billion in economic costs associated with motor vehicle crashes in Massachusetts in 2005.

Since safety belts reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a motor vehicle crash by up to 50%, we can improve highway safety in Massachusetts by getting more people to buckle up with our Click It or Ticket Campaign.

The most recent goal of the campaign was to increase safety belt use in Massachusetts from 65% in 2005 to 67% in 2006. As of June 2006 our belt use was 67%. Our campaign goal for 2007 is to increase our belt use to 70%. Yet nationwide safety belt use was 81% as of 2006.

Massachusetts law requires all occupants to be properly restrained by a safety belt when riding in a private passenger motor vehicle, including vans and trucks. Learn more about the Massachusetts Safety Belt Law as well as the Massachusetts Child Passenger Safety Law and the GHSB's Child Passenger Safety Program.

 
Launched in December of 1999, the You Drink. You Drive. You Lose. Campaign is a national partnership between Law Enforcement, community agencies, businesses, schools and others who are committed to reducing deaths from impaired driving to not more that 11,000 nationwide by 2005.

The intent is to build on the incredible momentum and the hard work already taking place in communities throughout America aimed at stopping impaired driving and saving lives.

Studies show that the majority of Americans consider impaired driving to be one of our nations most important social issues. Nearly 97 percent of American view impaired driving as a major threat to communities.

On a national level, the You Drink. You Drive. You Lose. Campaign is supported by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, MADD, SADD, Remove Intoxicated Drivers and other group interested in making our communities safer.

Impaired Driving is a serious crime that kill innocent people each year. In 2000, 16,653 people died on our roadways as a result of an impaired driver. That figure reflects an increase of nearly 1,000 deaths over the prior year. We have reached a cross road in our effort to prevent this deadly crime. The Unites States is at a critical point where we all must do our part to significantly reduce the number of alcohol related crashes.

In the United States some one dies in a car crash every 13 minutes. Every 33 minutes someone dies in an alcohol related car crash. This number is high and rising. The victims are could be someone’s mother, father, spouse, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, grandparent or friend. Do your part to make sure this type of tragedy does not affect you life.

To reduce aggressive and distracted driving, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security's Highway Safety Division (EOPSS-HSD) annually conducts with state and local police a statewide Road Respect Mobilization.  Using Federal Highway Safety funds, this initiative coordinates extra state and local traffic enforcement, paid and earned media, and community education. 

If a serious incident occurs on the road, safely contact the nearest police agency by dialing 911, even on a cellular phone.


Ten tips to reduce aggressive and distracted driving: 

• Obey posted speed limits.   Allow extra travel time for traffic and bad weather.

• Always signal your intentions when turning or changing lanes.

• Come to a full stop at red lights and stop signs.

• Never run yellow lights.

• Let other drivers pass and merge as necessary.

• On multi-lane highways, use the left lane for passing only.

• Use extra care when talking on a cell phone while driving or while engaging in other distracting actions (changing radio stations, etc.). Ideally pull over at a safe location to make a cell phone call.

• Refrain from unnecessary use of your horn.

• Pay attention to the special needs of those who drive trucks and buses, ride motorcycles and bicycles, and pedestrians.

• Wear your safety belt. It’s your best defense against an aggressive or distracted driver.

If confronted by an aggressive or distracted driver…

• Control your emotions to avoid escalating the situation.

• Attempt to safely get out of his or her way.

• Avoid eye contact or obscene gestures.

• If a serious incident occurs, immediately contact the nearest police agency by dialing 911. If using a call phone, pull over at a safe location and dial 911.

For more information on national efforts to reduce aggressive and distracted driving:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Aggressive Driving Action Guide has more information on aggressive, distracted, and drowsy driving.

The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association has safety tips and additional information related to cellular phones and driving.

The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) can help employers educate their workers about the costs and dangers of aggressive driving.