“Battle of the Belt” at Holt and Timberland
October 12, 2010
Wentzville School District
High school students at Holt and Timberland were out in their respective school parking lots encouraging drivers and passengers alike to wear their safety belts last week as part of the “Battle of the Belt” initiative.
The competition, sponsored by the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, the Missouri Nurses Association and American Family Insurance, was developed to increase student seat belt usage and reduce the number of motor vehicle-related injuries and fatalities among Missouri teenagers.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Missouri teen safety belt usage rate for 2009 was only 61%. Student members of Family, Career and Community Leaders of American (FCCLA) at Timberland held a surprise check at their school on Monday morning, October 4th and recorded 71% safety belt usage
FCCLA Sponsor and Family and Consumer Science Educator Cherie Boren said they would like to increase that usage number to 91% by the end of their educational campaign which will include having a guest speaker from the Missouri Highway Patrol and adding “Buckle Up” signs on campus.
Student members of Every Monday Matters (EMM) at Holt High School braved the cold on October 5th to man the parking lot as students and faculty arrived for school. EMM is a group born of the national grassroots movement by the same name that operates under the belief that every day, every individual can make a difference in someone else’s life. EMM members held signs that read “Buckle Up Please. We care about your safety,” and kept logs to record safety belt usage as vehicles entered the school lots. Additional surprise checks will take place in the coming weeks at both schools, as these groups strive to increase students’ use of their safety belts.
From the Wentzville School District.
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