The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) is making it possible for NASCAR fans to meet DGM Racing Xfinity Series driver Ross Chastain on Thursday, September 12 in Watkins Glen. Chastain will join the GTSC at the Schuyler County Courthouse to promote the importance of seat belt use through the “Protect Your Melon” campaign.  

Fans will have two opportunities to get autographs and meet Chastain. The NASCAR driver will make an appearance on the lawn of the Schuyler County Courthouse on Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and again at 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Chastain will also be at the Department of Motor Vehicles booth at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, September 15 at 11:00 a.m. for a brief appearance. 

“Who better to highlight the importance of wearing a seat belt than a NASCAR driver,” said Mark J.F. Schroeder, Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles and GTSC Chair. “We have been lucky to work with Ross on our Protect Your Melon campaign for several years and are grateful for his unwavering commitment to this cause makes. We know that fans look up to Ross, and we also know that those most likely to not wear a seat belt are young men, so with Ross’s help, we are able to reinforce this crucial message with the people who need to hear it most.”

NASCAR driver Ross Chastain said, “I am once again looking forward to working with the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee on the Protect Your Melon program in Watkins Glen. This program highlights the importance of highway safety, specifically seat belt use, and the impact it has on saving lives across the state.”

Public Appearances
When: Thursday, September 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 
Where: Schuyler County Courthouse Lawn, 106 Tenth Street, Watkins Glen 

Protecting New Yorkers
GTSC “Protect Your Melon” and “Buckle Up New York” campaigns aim to educate New Yorkers about the significant role seat belts have in preventing injuries and deaths in crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on average, someone who is not wearing a seat belt dies in a car crash every 47 minutes in this country. NHTSA data shows that if you buckle up in the front seat of a passenger car, you can reduce your risk of fatal injury by 45 percent. Data from the New York State Department of Health shows that people who aren’t wearing seat belts are also five times more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury. 

New York was the first state in the nation to pass legislation requiring drivers and front-seat passengers to use seat belts. In 2020 the seat belt law was strengthened to require everyone in passenger vehicles, regardless of where they sit, to wear a seat belt or be properly restrained in a child safety seat. 

About GTSC
Combined with education and enforcement campaigns, GTSC coordinates various traffic safety activities throughout the year, and supports ongoing initiatives to improve pedestrian, motorcycle and bicycle safety. The GTSC also sponsors critical training for law enforcement, provides resources for teen drivers and their parents, and promotes seat belt use statewide. 

For more information about traffic safety in New York State, please visit the GTSC website at https://trafficsafety.ny.gov/.