NASCAR Xfinity driver Ross Chastain will be in Watkins Glen on Thursday, teaming up with the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) to promote seat belt use through the “Protect Your Melon” campaign.
Chastain will appear on the lawn of the Schuyler County Courthouse from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., offering fans a chance to meet him and get autographs. He’ll also make a brief appearance at the DMV booth at Watkins Glen International on Sunday at 11:15 a.m.
The “Protect Your Melon” and “Buckle Up New York” campaigns aim to raise awareness about the life-saving benefits of seat belts. GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said the growing popularity of the campaign shows the message is reaching a broad audience.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a person not wearing a seat belt dies in a crash every 47 minutes in the U.S. Buckling up can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45% in passenger cars. New York law requires all passengers, regardless of seating position, to wear a seat belt or be properly restrained.
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James urged drivers and passengers to make buckling up a habit, saying, “Seat belts are not an option in New York—it takes only seconds and saves lives.”
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