GAINESVILLE - Gainesville/Hall County's Safe Kids Coalition Wednesday celebrated passage of Georgia's 'Seatbelts in Pick-up Trucks' law, but a local legislator who supported it said passing the measure this year was not easy.
State Representative Doug Collins said the bill was stuck in committee for years, but this year it picked up support from House Speaker David Ralston. Collins said some legislators from farming areas still would not budge, but the measure has a provision for pick-ups off the road on farm property.
"There is a provision for true agricultural use," Collins said. "That was an exemption that needed to be there and that was what was provided with the bill. If the driver is just going down the road for no other reason, especially in metro areas, that was another issue that brought to the forefront, pick-ups used in urban areas as opposed to agricultural areas."
State Director of Public Safety Bob Dallas, who also appeared at the coalition meeting, said he expects the law to save around 100 lives lives a year statewide. Dallas said credited the support of several safety organizations including Safe Kids for helping move the measure through the legislature this year.
"A lot of lives and families will be saved because this bill passed," Dallas said.
Citing a steadily decreasing number of traffic deaths each year in Georgia, Dallas said it was his goal to see the annual fatality figure drop under 1000.
He said the way to achieve that figure is to buckle up, don't drink and drive,and slow down.
Friday
October 18th, 2024
6:21PM
