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92_HR0927 LRB9216917RHrh 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, Motor vehicle travel is the primary means of 3 transportation in the United States, providing an 4 unprecedented degree of mobility; yet for all its advantages, 5 deaths and injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes are 6 the leading cause of death for persons of every age from 4 to 7 33 (based on 1998 data); and 8 WHEREAS, In 2000, nationally, 41,821 people were killed 9 in the estimated 6,394,000 police-reported motor vehicle 10 crashes, 3,189,000 people were injured; and 11 WHEREAS, 1,396 people lost their lives in traffic crashes 12 on Illinois roadways in 2001; and 13 WHEREAS, A 10 percent seat belt use gain will save 14 approximately 84 additional lives, prevent an additional 15 2,620 injuries, and save another $201 million; and 16 WHEREAS, The Illinois safety belt usage rate of 71.4% 17 remains below the national average and IDOT has set a goal of 18 78% for 2003; and 19 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives is furthermore 20 committed to enhancing the quality of life and safety of the 21 millions of people who live, work and play in the State of 22 Illinois; and 23 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives acknowledges the 24 fact that wearing safety belts and using child safety seats 25 is the easiest and most effective means of reducing 26 fatalities and serious injuries when crashes occur; one of 27 the best defenses against drunk or drugged drivers is the use 28 of safety belts combined with air bags; and 29 WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the State of 30 Illinois to inform its citizens of issues which would enhance -2- LRB9216917RHrh 1 their safety and the safety of their children; and 2 WHEREAS, Encouraging motorists to buckle up is the single 3 most effective measure that the State of Illinois can do to 4 save lives and injuries and prevent needless injuries in our 5 communities; and 6 WHEREAS, Aggressive and highly visible enforcement of 7 safety belt laws coupled with strong public education and 8 awareness has proven to be effective in raising safety belt 9 compliance and ultimately saving lives; and 10 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives is committed to 11 improving the effectiveness of law enforcement throughout the 12 State; therefore, be it 13 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 14 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 15 we support the region-wide "Click It or Ticket" Memorial Day 16 enforcement wave from May 20 to June 2, 2002, and encourage 17 all Illinois law enforcement agencies to adopt an aggressive 18 stance making safety belt and child safety seat enforcement 19 and awareness a priority.