http://www.buckleupamerica.org/DisneyPixar_CIOTTVSpot_30.wmv .

“Too many people are dying needlessly on highways because they aren’t wearing their safety belts,” said Secretary Mineta. “The bottom line is you don’t often get a chance to save tens of thousands of lives using the magic of digital animation, but this is one of those days.”

The Secretary noted that although 82 percent of Americans wear safety belts, over half of the estimated 43,000 people who died in highway crashes last year didn’t buckle up. He said that young men between the ages of 18 and 34 were the least likely to wear a safety belt.

“We need to reach young men who like cars and racing and get more of them to buckle up,” Secretary Mineta said. “Partnering with groups like NASCAR and Disney is a good way to reach the 18 percent of Americans who still don’t wear their safety belts.”

As part of the new partnership, special “Click It or Ticket” signs, videos and other materials will be on display throughout the Lowe’s Motor Speedway during the NASCAR Nextel Cup series Coca-Cola 600 race scheduled for Memorial Day weekend. In addition, the new “CARS” safety ad will be distributed to the Department’s national, state and local highway safety partners.

“Click It or Ticket” is the national highway safety campaign that each May brings together more than 12,000 state and local law enforcement agencies in a national crackdown on safety belt violators.

Briefing Room