LETTERS: Buckle up for holiday, and every day
To the editor:
Fatalities are up nationwide for unbelted vehicle occupants, for the first time in five years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2012, 10,335 unbelted vehicle occupants lost their lives. In Nevada, 41 unbelted vehicle occupants died last year.
These numbers are not acceptable, and the Nevada Highway Patrol is determined to help bring these numbers down. Seat belts save lives. From 2008 to 2012, they saved nearly 63,000 lives nationally. And in 2012, an additional 3,031 lives could have been saved if all unrestrained occupants involved in fatal crashes had worn their seat belts.
NHP officers are going to be reminding motorists to wear their seat belts by stepping up enforcement. Our efforts are part of the 2014 “Click It or Ticket” mobilization that runs from May 19 to June 1. As motorists take to the roads to celebrate the long Memorial Day weekend, law enforcement officials across Nevada will also be taking to the roads to ensure that everyone buckles up.
Many people tend to think that they don’t need to buckle up, that they are invincible. They are not. Young adults are dying at a disproportionate rate because they are not wearing their seat belts. Men are dying in vehicle crashes twice as often as women, and wearing their seat belts less than women. Pickup occupants think that they don’t need to wear their seat belts because they believe their large vehicle will protect them in a crash. They are dying as well.
We are particularly worried about the number of unbelted deaths that occur at night. In 2012, 61 percent of passenger-vehicle occupants killed during the nighttime hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. were not wearing their seat belts.
We want to ensure that everyone arrives at their destinations safely, so we are letting you know now: If you are not wearing your seat belt, you will be ticketed. We will show no leniency. Our officers are also trained to spot seat belt violations at night, so no matter what time of day it is, they will catch you.
So please remember, day or night, Click It or Ticket. For more information on the “Click It or Ticket” mobilization, I encourage you to visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.
JEREMIE ELLIOT
HENDERSON
The writer is a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper.
The right is wrong
To the editor:
I was amazed to read in Joseph W. McLaughlin’s letter, “There is no question President Obama is bent on destroying the U.S. as we know it.” (“Columnist kudos,” May 13 Review-Journal). Obviously, Mr. McLaughlin was talking about the Bush administration, which left office with the economy falling into depression. Thousands of jobs were being lost every month, the stock market was tanking and the federal debt was going up.
Now, in the Obama administration, there are thousands of jobs being created every month, the stock market is at a record high and the debt is going down.
Mr. McLaughlin also wrote, “We must change the direction of the country.” That has already been tried. Incumbents were voted out and replaced by tea party candidates, who have replaced legislation with gridlock. Mr. McLaughlin says conservatives are going along to get along, which is the complete opposite of what has been happening.
The writer states the need for a pro-growth society. But the only jobs and growth program these people like is the Keystone pipeline, which would carry oil recovered by fracking — a dubious and sometimes dangerous procedure — and send it across the U.S. — risking spills and breaks — to southern refineries, where it can be shipped to other countries. Temporary jobs would be created but only a few permanent ones.
This country has worked well in the past, and we need to get back to electing intelligent people who don’t think “compromise” is a dirty word.
JANICE HERR
LAS VEGAS
Thanking our veterans
To the editor:
This is a letter of thanks to the folks at Walker Furniture, in partnership with American Legion Paradise Post 149, for their “Help for Heroes” program, which was also sponsored by Las Vegas Rescue Mission and Famous Dave’s. While we’re at it, how about a hand for the folks at Station Casinos for their “Military Monday,” with all sorts of discounts for our veterans and active military folks?
I’m not an employee of any of these companies, nor am I a veteran. I’m just happy to see veterans being remembered. We need more of this.
CHARLES BERBERIAN
LAS VEGAS
Downtown stadium
To the editor:
The latest proposal for a downtown sports complex has left me puzzled (“Newest hope: soccer stadium,” Thursday Review-Journal). The city of Las Vegas is in a partnership with a business (the Cordish Cos.) to build a new venue, in hopes of luring a professional soccer franchise to Las Vegas, instead of building a new arena with a business for a professional team already in town — the Las Vegas Wranglers hockey team. I’m just wondering if I am the only perplexed taxpayer.
KEN VANBIBBER
LAS VEGAS
