<p> Governor’s Office of Highway Safety</p><p>For more information: Jim Shuler, GOHS Public Affairs MEDIA ADVISORY 404-656-6996 or 888-420-0767 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [email protected] JUNE 20, 2005</p><p>Milledgeville National “Buckle-Up America” Winner! NEWS CONFERENCE TO RECOGNIZE MAYOR’S OFFICE WHAT: Buckle Up America NEWS CONFERENCE to officially announce the City of Milledgeville as a “ Mayors Challenge” national winner. WHEN: Monday, June 20, 2005 at 11AM WHERE: Milledgeville City Hall 478-452-2003 119 E. Hancock St., Milledgeville, GA 31061</p><p>BUCKLE UP AMERICA AWARD The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been working in partnership with the National Conference of Black Mayors to establish the Buckle Up America, Mayors Challenge Competition to educate citizens on the importance of wearing safety belts and saving lives. MILLEDGEVILLE MAYORS CHALLENGE WINNER In 2005, Milledgeville was the winner of the Mayors Challenge competition for Category IV Cities, including communities with a population of 15,000 to 35,000. The City of Milledgeville was recognized and was awarded a monetary prize at the National Black Mayors Conference in Columbus, Ohio. NEWS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED Traffic safety advocates and community educators will join local lawmakers and law enforcement and partners from local business. Lifesaving efforts by the City of Milledgeville will be officially recognized by Director Bob Dallas from the Georgia’s Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, (NHTSA) Regional Program Manager Belinda Jackson from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Southeast Office and Project Manager Keith Hinch from the National Office of Black Mayors. State Senator Johnny Grant, Dist. 25 is on the speaker’s agenda. NEWS MEDIA WELCOME/PHOTO-OP/PUBLIC INVITED Reporters & photographers will have access to one-on-one interviews with state and federal highway spokespersons. News Conference visitors will receive a commemorative wrist band reminder to “Drive Sober, Buckle Up, and Slow Down.” SAFETY BELT GOALS FOR MILLEDGEVILLE & GEORGIA Safety belt use in Milledgeville rose nearly twenty percent to 85.4% following the Buckle Up America campaign here. Child safety seat use increased by two thirds to 93%. The current statewide safety belt use for Georgia is 86.7%, the highest in the Southeast. </p><p>Governor’s Office of Highway Safety 34 Peachtree Street—Suite 1600—One Park Tower—Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Visit us on the web at www.georgiahighwaysafety.org Sonny Perdue, Governor Robert F. Dallas, Director</p>