Remarks by Secretary Slater, Elmira New York Seat Belt Event

Rodney E. Slater, United States Secretary of Transportation
April 17, 2000

Good afternoon. I am here in Elmira today as part of a two-week, multi-modal transportation tour across America that began last Friday in Laredo, Texas at the U.S.-Mexican border and will conclude on May 1, in Buffalo, New York, on the U.S.-Canadian border. Our purpose is to look at the future of transportation in the 21st century.

This tour reinforces the Clinton-Gore Administration's recognition of transportation as a strategic investment – along with education, health care, technology and the environment – that is essential to strengthening America for the fresh challenges and limitless opportunities of a new century and new millennium.

We plan to use what we learn over the next two weeks to design the International Transportation Symposium the U.S. Department of Transportation will host in Washington, D.C. this fall, to share best practices and innovative ideas from around the world.

I am especially pleased to be in Elmira to, in the words of noted author Alex Haley, "Find the Good and Praise It."

We are here today to praise the good work of the people of Elmira who -- in a record 30 days -- increased seat belt use from 69 percent to more than 90 percent -- an all time high.

I want to personally thank Sheriff Charles Houper and the Chemung County Sheriff’s Department; Chief Michael Ciminelli, and the Elmira Police Department; Chief Peter Peterson and the West Elmira Police Department; Chief Robert Hauptman and the Village of Elmira Police Department; Chief Craig Banfield, and Village of Horseheads Police Department; and Patrolman David Backman, representing the Town of Southport Police Department, for the extraordinary work they’ve done to promote traffic safety in Elmira.

Safety is President Clinton’s and Vice President Gore’s highest transportation priority and at the U.S. Department of Transportation -- it is our North Star, by which we are guided and willing to be judged.

Under the visionary and vigilant leadership of this Administration, seat belt use is at an all time high, traffic deaths are at an all time low and the incidents of impaired driving are on the decline.

Two weeks ago I was able to announce that traffic fatality rates in 1999 hit an all time low -- the third successive year of historic improvement in the highway death rate. This good news can be attributed to the kind of effort taking place here in Elmira -- in fact, all over the entire state.

Clearly, you are making a difference. The New York State Police, under the leadership of Superintendent Jim McMahonn in partnership with local departments across the state have worked hard to boost seat belt use from an already high 76 percent to a record 85 percent, and more than 90 percent in Elmira. Law enforcement and private and public organizations combined forces to educate the public about seat belt use in combination with statewide enforcement.

Your success proves that a solid three-pronged approach -- education, awareness and enforcement -- can produce positive results.

New York – a model for other states to follow – is leading the way to transportation safety excellence in this new century and new millennium.

Safety is this Department’s top goal, and I applaud the work of law enforcement officers in Elmira, and throughout the state, to ensure that all New Yorkers are buckling up.

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Source:  U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)