Let’s put the brakes on fatalities


By Larry Emig

Over the next 20 days, you’ll read some incredible stories from people across the state who are sharing their experiences involving a variety of traffic safety issues that will part of this year's Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day blog. Some of the stories have happy endings, and some don’t. Either way, each experience will tell a unique story.  And the insight from them will help to bring home the message of why it’s vital to reduce the number of fatalities. 
I am proud to have been a part of the national safety campaign Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day since it began here in Kansas in 2001. I’ve told the story many places both here in Kansas and elsewhere about my idea of a having a national day with no fatalities similar to and patterned after the Great American Smokeout.  Some people think we will never achieve that goal, but with new technology for engineering, educating, enforcement and emergency care, I like to think we will. In 2002, there were 43,005 fatalities and in 2012, there were 33,561.  We are headed in the right direction.
Please read all of the blogs that will be posted here daily until Friday, Oct. 10, which is the official day each year for Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day and share them with friends and family. By sharing these stories, we increase awareness, which leads to improved safety on our roadways.

Larry Emig initiated the national Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day safety campaign in 2001. Larry was the Chief of the Bureau of Local Project and retired from the Kansas Department of Transportation in 2006 and is still very active in finding ways to improve traffic safety.

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous9/15/2014

    Thanks so much Larry for your continuing efforts to improve safety and reduce fatalities on our roadways!

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  2. Traffic Safety is important to everyone including our construction workers. Be especially watchful in construction zones

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  3. Anonymous9/15/2014

    Larry,

    The number of fatalities remains to be a staggering number, even with the reductions. We must continue our efforts to do more; and that begins with each of us in our own driving habits and ends with our opportunities in our work tasks that involve highway safety. Thank you for your continued involvement for the benefit of others.

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  4. Anonymous9/15/2014

    Thanks Larry! It's a privilege to work with you as we work to reduce both the traffic fatalities here in Kansas and across the United States. Tim

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  5. I have been on the committee for "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day" for 8 years and I'm proud in helping promote traffic safety from CPS to Sr. CarFit. Traffic safety comes in many forms in everyone's day-to-day lives. Taking a second to "click it" and to "put down the phone" can save a life - your life and some elses.

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  6. Hello matee nice blog

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