Latest news with #JackMcNeely
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
GHSP encourages families to 'Stop, Look, and Lock' to prevent car heatstroke deaths
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — Heatstroke Prevention Day is May 1, 2025, and the Governor's Highway Safety Program (GHSP) is urging West Virginians to stop and look before they lock. According to a press release, vehicular heatstroke is the leading cause of non-collision vehicle-related death in children 14 years of age and younger in the nation. GHSP is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to encourage parents and guardians to educate themselves and share about the dangers of leaving kids in cars as the temperatures begin to warm up: Once You Park, Stop, Look, Lock. In the time since safety advocates began tracking data in 1998, heatstroke has been the cause of death for more than 1,000 children, the release stated. According to recent data, one child dies from heatstroke every 10 days in the nation from crawling into an unlocked vehicle or from being left in a vehicle. These deaths are all preventable. Federal cuts to AmeriCorps impact rural West Virginians Temperatures inside vehicles can become up to 50 degrees higher than those outside, the release detailed. Cool days could even pose a risk to children, as their body temperatures increase at a rate three to five times faster than an adult's body. 39 children died due to vehicular heatstroke in 2024, an increase from the 29 children that died from vehicular heatstroke the previous year. Although a decrease in the rate of heatstroke death decreased in 2020, it has steadily increased in time time since. Averages show that 37 children die yearly due to vehicular heatstroke. May marks the start of Motorcycle Safety Month Smaller children, such as toddlers, are also at risk for vehicular heatstroke due to them being more likely to climb into unlocked vehicles unsupervised. Nearly a quarter of hot car deaths result from children 'gaining access' to a vehicle, the release stated. It is important to teach children that a vehicle is not something to play in, and to play in or around one is a dangerous thing to do. Parents and caregivers think this sort of tragedy could never happen to them. Sadly, 'never' does happen. Anyone is susceptible to forgetfulness. It doesn't matter who is taking care of the child, what their background is, or where they come from: Routines are often upended. It is during these moments of hurriedness and change in routine that many of these tragedies occur. Once You Park, Stop, Look, Lock. Jack McNeely | Director, Governor's Highway Safety Program Annual Rhododendron Festival begins in May NHTSA encourages caregivers and parents to take these three simple precautions to prevent vehicular heatstroke deaths: When getting out of a car, check the entire vehicle every time. Never leaave a child unattended inside of a vehicle, not even for a minute. Always lock the vehicle and keep the keys where children cannot reach them. For more information regarding vehicular heatstroke and steps to take if you see a child trapped in a car, as well as warning signs of heatstroke, visit the NHTSA website. To access current data regarding heatstroke, visit For more information regarding the Governor's Highway Safety Program, visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Governor's Highway Safety Program encourages drivers to drive safely during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — The Governor's Highway Safety Program reminded the public to drive safely during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to a press release, the Governor's Highway Safety Program (GHSP) teamed up with the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reminded drivers to drive safely. Contour Airlines adds flight between Greenbrier Valley Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport The public was encouraged to follow the message 'Don't Drive Distracted. Eyes Forward' and avoid distractions when driving, which can include using cell phones or anything that pulls a person's attention away from driving, as well as focusing on safety while on the road. Distracted driving can pose a risk to everyone on the road, such as the driver and other drivers on the road, pedestrians, bicyclists, and passengers. The bottom line is distracted driving can be prevented. Drivers can prioritize safe driving by keeping their hands on the wheel, their eyes on the road, and their focus on driving. Jack McNeely | Director of the Governor's Highway Safety Program According to the press release, 1,860 distracted driving accidents were reported in West Virginia in 2022, which included 835 injuries and four deaths. The press release stated that according to the NHTSA, approximately 1.8 million people were injured and 15,960 fatalities occurred in distracted driving accidents from 2018 to 2022. 3,308 deaths occurred in 2022 due to accidents that involved at least one distracted driver, making up eight percent of the year's traffic fatalities. In 2022, approximately 289,310 people were injured in traffic accidents where distracted drivers were involved. WVDOT makes progress on road repairs, but financial challenges lie ahead The press release stated that tips people can use to drive safely include: If people are expecting a text message, or a text message needs to be sent immediately, drivers are advised to pull over and find a safe place to park before using their phone. Have a passenger be the 'designated texter,' and allow them to access your phone to respond to any calls or text messages. Do not look through social media or send messages while driving. Listen to your passengers if they ask the driver to put the phone down if they see it being used. People can also turn on their phone's 'Do Not Disturb' feature, silence notifications, or put their phone away until they arrive at their destination. Additional information can be found on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website, and information about the West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program can be found on their website or by calling 304-926-2509. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Click It or Ticket campaign will begin soon throughout West Virginia
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — The West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program (GHSP) is planning a statewide Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement effort throughout the month of March. According to a press release, the campaign is one of the GHSP's year-long efforts to raise the usage of seat belts in the Mountain State, and serves as a prelude to the national campaign taking place in May. The statewide campaign will begin on March 7, 2025 and end on March 25, 2025. In 2022, an estimated 49 percent of all passenger vehicle occupants that were killed in crashes in the state were not wearing a seat belt. To lower the risk, enforcing seat belt laws must happen day and night. Carnegie Hall preparing for St. Patrick's Day with high-energy Tartan Terrors Our seat belt usage decreased to 91.9 percent in 2024 from 93 percent in 2023. While we are displeased with this decrease, we will keep working until every person in every vehicle is correctly buckled up. A seat belt is your best protection against death or injury should you be in a vehicle crash. Jack McNeely | Director, Governor's Highway Safety Program Residents in rural areas may think their crash risk is lower, but in 2022, 66 percent of total vehicle deaths in West Virginia occurred in rural areas, compared to 34 percent in urban areas, the release noted. Officers across West Virginia will be on patrol, writing tickets to violators caught without using a seat belt or transporting children that are not restrained properly. The statewide effort is aimed at implementing seat belt use to keep all travelers safe. The reality is: seat belts save lives. Click It or Ticket isn't about citations; it's about saving lives. Not buckling up is not worth the risk. Jack McNeely | Director, Governor's Highway Safety Program 'Life in America: Through the Decades' pop art shows opens March 7 in Beckley Using your seat belt is required by law. Do not buckle up simply to avoid a ticket. The lives of our friends and families are priceless, infinitely greater than the $25 that violators will pay. If caught driving while unbuckled and you get a ticket, view it as a wakeup call, the release stated. For more information regarding the West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program, call 304-926-2509, or visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
West Virginia law enforcement will be targeting this traffic violation starting Friday
CHARLESTON, (WBOY) — From March 7-25, drivers in West Virginia are more likely to get pulled over and cited for a certain violation. The West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program's (GHSP) 'Click It or Ticket' mobilization is set to take place on those days. This means that law enforcement 'will be out in full force' across West Virginia, and anyone caught without a seatbelt or transporting an improperly restrained child will be ticketed, according to a press release. In West Virginia, anyone sitting in the front seat is required to wear a seatbelt, and anyone under the age of 18 is required to wear a seatbelt no matter where they are seated in a vehicle. Click It or Ticket is meant to help reduce injuries and fatalities from crashes in the state. According to the GHSP, half of passengers killed in vehicle accidents in West Virginia in 2022 were not wearing seatbelts, with most of them occurring in rural locations. 'My dreams were crushed in one email': WVU student has offer rescinded due to federal cuts 'The reality is: seat belts save lives,' GHSP Director Jack McNeely said in the release. 'Click It or Ticket isn't about citations; it's about saving lives. Not buckling up is not worth the risk.' A similar Click It or Ticket mobilization at the national level will take place in May. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program encourages safe driving on Super Bowl Sunday
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — Football fans were reminded by the West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program to drive safely on Super Bowl Sunday. According to a press release, the West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program (GHSP) and the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) partnered together to remind fans to not drive while drunk on Sunday, February 9, 2025. Need help making plans to watch the Big Game? The Greenbrier has you covered Super Bowl is a special night each year for our community to come together to celebrate, but we need responsible drivers on our roads. The biggest key to keeping everyone safe on our roads during and after the Big Game is to plan ahead. We want everyone to enjoy watching their teams play during the Super Bowl, but we also want to make sure everyone is responsible while driving on West Virginia's roadways. Jack McNeely | Director of the GHSP Drunk driving can have a range of consequences, including the possibility of causing a traumatic crash. These crashes could cause you, someone you love, or a total stranger to suffer serious injuries or even death. Help set up your team, your friends, family, and other partygoers, for a night of success by making sure no one drives themselves home after drinking Amy Boggs | Division Manager of the GHSP The press release encouraged people to have snacks and non-alcoholic drinks for guests and designated drivers, have guests choose a designated driver early, and encourage guests to eat food, drink plenty of water, and pace themselves. Why is football called 'football'? People enjoying Super Bowl Sunday are also advised to not give alcohol to minors, and that anyone who gives alcohol to minors can be held liable for any damage, injury, or death caused by an underaged driver. Anyone who plans to be a designated driver is encouraged to inform others about the decision, and help friends get home safely if they wish to drink. Those who believe that they see a drunk driver is advised to contact law enforcement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
