FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 15, 2023         

GOVERNOR’S TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND NASCAR DRIVER ROSS CHASTAIN RETURN TO WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL TO PROMOTE SEAT BELT USAGE

Chastain to Meet with Fans and Encourage Seat Belt Use  

NASCAR fans will have the opportunity to meet DGM Racing Xfinity Series driver Ross Chastain on Thursday, August 17 in Watkins Glen. Chastain will join the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) to promote the importance of seat belt use through the “Protect Your Melon” campaign.  

Fans will have two opportunities to get autographs and meet Chastain. The NASCAR driver will meet with fans on the lawn of the Schuyler County Courthouse on Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and again at 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. He will also make a brief appearance at the Department of Motor Vehicles booth at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, August 20 at 11:00 a.m. 

“The simple act of buckling up takes only seconds and it is the easiest, best way to keep yourself safe inside a vehicle.” said Mark J.F. Schroeder, Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles and GTSC Chair. “Partnering with NASCAR driver Ross Chastain helps us get that message out to young people who are less likely to buckle up.”

NASCAR driver Ross Chastain said, "I am beyond excited to return to New York to work with our friends at the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee on the Protect Your Melon program. We have enjoyed a long partnership together encouraging fans to buckle up, both front and back, every time they get in the car. I look forward to meeting fans on Thursday, racing throughout the weekend and reminding fans to practice safe driving habits."

Public Appearances
When: Thursday, August 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 
Where: Schuyler County Courthouse Lawn, 106 Tenth Street, Watkins Glen 

Protecting New Yorkers
GTSC "Protect Your Melon" and "Buckle Up New York" campaigns aim to educate New Yorkers about the significant role seat belts have in preventing injuries and deaths in crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, if you buckle up in the front seat of a passenger car, you can reduce your risk of fatal injury by 45 percent. Data from the New York State Department of Health shows that people who aren’t wearing seat belts are also five times more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury. 

New York was the first state in the nation to pass legislation requiring drivers and front-seat passengers to use seat belts. In 2020 the seat belt law was strengthened to require everyone in passenger vehicles, regardless of where they sit, to wear a seat belt or be properly restrained in a child safety seat. 

About GTSC
Combined with education and enforcement campaigns, GTSC coordinates various traffic safety activities throughout the year, and supports ongoing initiatives to improve pedestrian, motorcycle and bicycle safety. The GTSC also sponsors critical training for law enforcement, provides resources for teen drivers and their parents, and promotes seat belt use statewide. 

For more information about traffic safety in New York State, please visit the GTSC website at https://trafficsafety.ny.gov/. 

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