Dearborn Police Plan 'Safe Driver Initiative' as Summer Approaches

As a reminder to motorists to drive safely during the summer season, the Dearborn Police Department will place a vehicle that was involved in an accident in front of the station beginning May 31.

The display is part of the department's "Safe Driver Initiative" it conducts in conjunction with AAA Michigan every year.

"Anytime you increase the number of cars on the road, you increase the potential to have an accident," Sgt. Steve White of the Dearborn Police Traffic Services Division said. "We want to keep the vision of a safe summer season at the forefront of our citizens' thoughts. We should all be responsible drivers and share the road with other motorists."

To kick-off the initiative, White said representatives from AAA Michigan, Mayor John B. O'Reilly, Jr., Police Chief Ronald Haddad, and other city officials will speak at the police station at 11 a.m. May 31. Students from Dearborn Public Schools and Mothers Against Drunk Driving will also be in attendance.

White said the department is participating in Michigan's Buckle Up or Pay Up, Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement mobilization, that runs May 22 through June 4 and includes the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) is providing federal traffic safety funds for local law enforcement agencies, sheriff offices and Michigan State Police posts in 55 of the state’s 83 counties to conduct safety belt enforcement zones during the two-week period.

Safety belt enforcement is expanding because the state’s goal is to reach 95 percent safety belt use, a 2 percent increase from last year’s record high of 93 percent.

"Each percent increase equates to about 10 lives saved and 130 injuries prevented," said Michael Prince, OHSP division director. "By reaching 95 percent, we will prevent 20 families from suffering the devastation a traffic fatality can cause."

For more information about the Safe Driver Initiative, call 313-943-2240.