When it comes to highway safety how do you know when the press is lying- They put it in print!

“Newspapers are unable, seemingly to discriminate between a bicycle accident and the collapse of civilization” George Bernard Shaw 

This popped into our Mailbox from a hardworking safety advocate. Even though we probably do not agree on a number of issues ya got to give props where props are due.

Problem is, People see stuff in the paper. See the source. It looks official so "bang"
it's true right? Well lets see, heres an article from Tampa Bay online dated January 14,2009.

Florida Road Safety Better But Lags In Key Areas

Rich Shopes
TAMPA, Jan 13, 2009 (Tampa Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --

Florida has done better when it comes to passing highway safety laws but lags in key areas, an advocacy group says.

Highway deaths in the state fell slightly from 2006 to 2007, the Washington-based Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety said in a report released Monday.

Florida got higher marks largely because the group recognized the state's ignition-interlock program, which uses alcohol-detection devices to prevent drunken drivers from starting their vehicles.

The law doesn't apply to first-time DUI offenders, so Florida only got half-credit.

The 55-page Roadmap Report casts Florida as a "yellow state," along with 30 others, meaning it has room to improve. The ratings of poorest to best overall safety laws are based on red, yellow and green.

Fifteen states and the District of Columbia were given green ratings for having adequate driver protections. Four states received red designations: Arkansas, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

The Sunshine State scored 9 out of a possible 15, a half-point improvement over last year.

Florida could have achieved a green had it passed a primary seatbelt law, a mandatory motorcycle helmet law or a booster seat law, among others, the group said. In Florida, seatbelt laws can be enforced only if a motorist is stopped for a primary violation, such as speeding.

Ed, Note:   Ummm if this is correct then how come if I go here:

Contact:
Major Ernesto Duarte
Florida Highway Patrol
850-487-3139

http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/News/Releases/05_08.htm

I find this: 

For Release June 29, 2005:

Troopers to Enforce Primary Seat Belt Law Beginning July 1st 

Motorists in Florida are reminded of the new Primary Seat Belt Law which becomes effective July 1, 2005. The new primary law, passed by the 2005 Florida Legislature and signed by Governor Jeb Bush recently, requires that occupants (including the driver) of a motor vehicle under the age of 18 buckle up in their vehicle. Law enforcement officers can now stop any vehicle when drivers or occupants under the age of 18 are seen not wearing seat belts. Under the new Primary Seat Belt Law, drivers will be held responsible for the failure of any occupant under the age of 18 who fails to buckle up.

Hellooooo, am I confused? Is Tampa Bay Online Confused? Is the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety confused?  Is the Florida Highway Patrol confused?  Well read on to read on cause the story contines:

Florida had 3,214 road deaths in 2007, a drop of 160. The group said it expects fatalities declined again in 2008, possibly because the poor economy meant people drove less.

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety is a coalition of insurance, consumer, health, safety and law enforcement organizations.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633.

This cute little picture came with it. 

So we in our paranoid little way are thinking, just who in  the hell is the 
"Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety"  anyway as we are noting something is wrong with this press release (hang in there bucko's). They have a prettier site than we do.  Tampa Bay Online says they are this:

"Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety is a coalition of insurance, consumer, health, safety and law enforcement organizations."

Well suspicious us, looking under: Board Member Sites

• Insurance Members
• Consumer Members
  

So looking under "Board Member sites".  Guess what we see?  Under Insurance Members we see:

• Allstate Insurance Company
• Farmers Insurance Group
• Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America
• Liberty Mutual Group
• National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies
• National Association of Professional Insurance Agents
• Nationwide Insurance
• State Farm Insurance Companies
• Unitrin Specialty
• USAA 

 We don't see no "law enforcement organizations"!

So our first question is this group, Like the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (and yes MSF we will keep saying this until you sue us to prove us wrong. And then we will sue you for profiting off the backs of the lives of motorcyclists) a "Front Group"? Only in this case, for the insurance industry, as opposed to the Motorcycle Industry Council.

BUT THE BIGGER ISSUE:  Freaking Tampa Bay Online prints this swill  and people will read it and believe it.   AND EVEN WORSE THAN THAT,  this dude Rich Shopes apparently calls himself a reporter?
re·port·er
(r-pôrtr, -pr-)n.
1. A writer, investigator, or presenter of news stories.Add to Technorati Favorites