Indiana State Police Bloomington District remind motorists to ‘Click It or Ticket‘
Troopers from the Indiana State Police Post in Bloomington, along with other agencies across Indiana, will be increasing patrols as part of the national “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign ahead of Memorial Day weekend. For the next three weeks, officers will be out in full force making sure drivers and passengers are buckled up, and children are properly secure. Their goal is to reduce the number of traffic injuries and fatalities from lack of seat belt use, a continuing concern. Data from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) shows that unbuckled motorists make up almost 40% of all passenger vehicle deaths in the state. The overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with grants administered by ICJI.
Throughout the campaign, officers will be watching for seat belt and car seat violations while conducting high-visibility patrols during the day and night, when unrestrained driving is at its peak. Drivers can be cited for lack of seat belt use, but also for each unbuckled passenger under the age of 16.
Since the “Click It or Ticket” initiative began more than 20 years ago, seat belt use has gone up 30% in Indiana to 92.9%, which is slightly higher than the national average of 90.3%. Despite making progress and advances in vehicle safety, in 2020, 226 unbuckled vehicle occupants lost their lives on Indiana roads – the second highest in the past decade. Young drivers, especially males, were the least likely to be buckled during a crash.
Research has repeatedly demonstrated the safety benefits of seat belts and the dangerous consequences when people choose not to use them. Buckling up can reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash by 50%. Without a seat belt fastened, people can be ejected from a vehicle and killed, and that risk increases if the driver is speeding or impaired. Indiana law requires the driver and all passengers to buckle up. Children under age eight must be properly restrained in a federally approved child car seat or booster seat.
IDHS names new EMS Medical Director
Dr. Eric B. Yazel, current health officer in Clark County, Indiana, has been appointed as the new Chief Medical Director for Indiana EMS. Dr. Yazel brings to the role a rich history of public health experience, including leadership positions with health systems, hospitals, emergency medicine, and more. As the Clark County Health Officer, Yazel has been recognized for his innovation as well as his success working through the local challenges presented during the height of COVID-19.
“I’m excited for Dr. Yazel to join IDHS as Indiana EMS medical director,” said IDHS Executive Director Steve Cox. “He is an energetic, experienced, and well-respected physician who has worked in emergency medicine and public health for many years, and we look forward to him bringing his record of successes to communities across the state.”
By statute, the IDHS Executive Director appoints the Medical Director position, which also must be approved by the Indiana EMS Commission. The Commission voted on May 13th to approve Yazel, and the state employee hiring process was finalized today. His first day at IDHS will be May 31st.
The EMS medical director is a critical position due to the leadership and strategy it provides emergency medical personnel across the state. Along with the Indiana EMS Section Director Kraig Kinney, the medical director will help guide laws and administrative rules governing the EMS system.
Purdue Football Head Coach to throw ceremonial first pitch for Indianapolis Indians
Purdue head football coach Jeff Brohm will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Indianapolis Indians’ homestand opener against the Toledo Mud Hens on Tuesday, May 17th.
The Indianapolis Indians are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They play their home games at Victory Field in downtown Indianapolis (501 W. Maryland St.), Indiana. The team’s mascot is Rowdie the Bear.
This Week in Hoosier History
1912 – World Peace Day was observed in all Indiana schools. It was a project created by Charity Dye, a teacher at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis. She was the sponsor of the school newspaper, The Dawn, and was active in promoting world peace and female suffrage. She was also an author of historical non-fiction. She chronicled the early years of the Hoosier State in Once Upon a Time in Indiana.
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