Thursday, Feb. 1, Country music artist Mickey Gilley joins the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) to kick off its fifth annual Seatbelts Are For Everyone (SAFE) campaign. Participating law enforcement agencies will focus efforts toward occupant-protection education, community outreach, and targeted seatbelt enforcement to reduce fatalities and increase Tennessee’s average seatbelt usage rate.

“We were thrilled when Mr. Gilley agreed to join the THSO in promoting this campaign,” said THSO Director Vic Donoho. “We appreciate how passionate Mr. Gilley feels about this issue. No one is immune to a traffic crash. Although crashes are preventable, they happen every day. Seatbelts are for everyone, and they really do save lives.”

Gilley joined the THSO to promote seatbelt usage after surviving a rollover crash in Texas on January 3, 2018. At the time of the crash, Gilley’s vehicle was struck by another vehicle whose driver failed to halt at a stop sign. Gilley suffered several injuries, including a fractured ankle, fractured shoulder, cracked sternum, and cracked rib. He credits his seatbelt for saving his life. Click here to view Gilley’s new public service announcement. Photos can be accessed here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/MnFujcqsdHQwojqg1.

According to the Tennessee Integrated Traffic Analysis Network, 80 people died statewide in vehicle over turn/rollover crashes last year. Thirty-two (40%) of those individuals were not wearing seatbelts. In 2016, Tennessee’s average seatbelt usage rate was 88.95 percent. Last year, the state’s usage rate decreased to 88.51 percent. This year, the THSO hopes to achieve 100 percent seatbelt usage across Tennessee through the SAFE campaign and other occupant-protection initiatives.