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Seventy-three percent of the student drivers at Mexico Senior High School wore their seat belts while driving to school Tuesday, according to a survey taken by student council members.
The observational survey was part of the kickoff of the 2009 Battle of the Belts Challenge, that is under way now through Nov. 21 at schools statewide. This is Mexico High School's first year participating.
Battle of the Belts was developed three years ago to reduce the number of motor-vehicle injuries and fatalities among Missouri high school students by increasing their safety belt use. The competition awards schools for increased seat belt usage after a student-run educational campaign. Students conduct random seat belt checks before and after the educational campaign, and the school with the highest increase in seat belt usage wins. MHS is one of 29 school districts competing in this year's event.
During the first random seat belt check, members of the MHS Student Council surveyed 190 vehicles, and determined the following:
• 130 drivers wore seat belts. 52 of their passengers also wore seat belts.
• 60 drivers were not wearing safety belts. 32 of their passengers were.
"The numbers are good," School Resource Officer Jim Willer told The Ledger, following Tuesday's survey. "But I would like to see us do better. We can do better."
Comprising only nine percent of Missouri's licensed drivers, Willer noted that young drivers are involved in 19 percent of fatal and disabling injury crashes. Since 1995 in Missouri, more than 1,900 teen occupants ages 15-19 years old have been killed and more than 20,000 have experienced disabling injuries in nearly 18,000 severe crashes.
Even more alarming, Willer added, "more than 80 percent of the teens killed in Missouri vehicle crashes each year aren't buckled up."
"This is why we decided to participate in the Battle of the Belt challenge," he said. "Young drivers need to be aware of the importance of wearing safety devices, and start realizing that they need to be responsible and learn how to drive safely, and to wear their seat belts."
Through education, competition and fun, Willer said, "We can make a difference with Missouri teens, and save lives."
Following is a list of events and activities planned for MHS students during the Battle of the Belts educational campaign:
• Tuesday, Oct. 13: A vehicle extraction demonstration by the Mexico Public Safety, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the circle drive.
• Wednesday, Oct. 14: Air bag demonstrations, from 10:30-12:30 p.m. in the MHS Sports Complex lobby.
• The week of October 19: Fifteen-minute videos will be shown during lunch hours. Dates and times will be announced closer to the event.
• The week of October 26: Fifteen-minute videos will be shown during lunch hours. Dates and times will be announced closer to the event.
• Wednesday, Nov. 18: The Missouri State Highway Patrol will conduct demonstrations on its seat belt convincer – which simulates the impact of a 5 mph crash.
"We try to keep kids interested in what we are trying to do, and sell it by having fun," Willer said. "But on the serious side, they still need to realize that wearing seat belts is important."
Statewide, only 62 percent of Missouri teens report wearing their seat belt. Between 2005 and 2007, 56 teens in central Missouri were killed in vehicle crashes. Thirty-eight of those young people were not wearing a seat belt.
Some students have seen the benefits of wearing a seat belt firsthand and don't need the competition to make them wear one.
"My sister was in a car wreck last week, and it totaled her car," said MHS senior Casey Bedford, who said he wears his safety belt devoutly. "She survived it with minor injuries because she had her seat belt on."
Bedford said he plans to participate in the competitions, and help spread awareness among his classmates and peers about the importance of wearing seat belts. "They really do save lives," he said.
Missouri high schools can participate in one or more components of the Battle of the Belts program. Prizes will be awarded for each component.
Prizes include:
• $1,000 to the Missouri school with the highest overall safety belt use rate
• $1,000 to the Missouri school with the most improved safety belt use rate
• $1,000 to the student or group producing a winning 30-second video PSA for safety belt use, and professional production of the video and possible use in local and statewide media
• Regional monetary awards for the highest overall safety belt use rate and most improved safety belt use rate.
The 2009 Battle of the Belt Challenge is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Transportation.
For more information about the competition, visit the Web site http://www.savemoyouth.com/.
Seventy-three percent of the student drivers at Mexico Senior High School wore their seat belts while driving to school Tuesday, according to a survey taken by student council members.
The observational survey was part of the kickoff of the 2009 Battle of the Belts Challenge, that is under way now through Nov. 21 at schools statewide. This is Mexico High School's first year participating.
Battle of the Belts was developed three years ago to reduce the number of motor-vehicle injuries and fatalities among Missouri high school students by increasing their safety belt use. The competition awards schools for increased seat belt usage after a student-run educational campaign. Students conduct random seat belt checks before and after the educational campaign, and the school with the highest increase in seat belt usage wins. MHS is one of 29 school districts competing in this year's event.
During the first random seat belt check, members of the MHS Student Council surveyed 190 vehicles, and determined the following:
• 130 drivers wore seat belts. 52 of their passengers also wore seat belts.
• 60 drivers were not wearing safety belts. 32 of their passengers were.
"The numbers are good," School Resource Officer Jim Willer told The Ledger, following Tuesday's survey. "But I would like to see us do better. We can do better."
Comprising only nine percent of Missouri's licensed drivers, Willer noted that young drivers are involved in 19 percent of fatal and disabling injury crashes. Since 1995 in Missouri, more than 1,900 teen occupants ages 15-19 years old have been killed and more than 20,000 have experienced disabling injuries in nearly 18,000 severe crashes.
Even more alarming, Willer added, "more than 80 percent of the teens killed in Missouri vehicle crashes each year aren't buckled up."
"This is why we decided to participate in the Battle of the Belt challenge," he said. "Young drivers need to be aware of the importance of wearing safety devices, and start realizing that they need to be responsible and learn how to drive safely, and to wear their seat belts."
Through education, competition and fun, Willer said, "We can make a difference with Missouri teens, and save lives."
Following is a list of events and activities planned for MHS students during the Battle of the Belts educational campaign:
• Tuesday, Oct. 13: A vehicle extraction demonstration by the Mexico Public Safety, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the circle drive.
• Wednesday, Oct. 14: Air bag demonstrations, from 10:30-12:30 p.m. in the MHS Sports Complex lobby.
• The week of October 19: Fifteen-minute videos will be shown during lunch hours. Dates and times will be announced closer to the event.
• The week of October 26: Fifteen-minute videos will be shown during lunch hours. Dates and times will be announced closer to the event.
• Wednesday, Nov. 18: The Missouri State Highway Patrol will conduct demonstrations on its seat belt convincer – which simulates the impact of a 5 mph crash.
"We try to keep kids interested in what we are trying to do, and sell it by having fun," Willer said. "But on the serious side, they still need to realize that wearing seat belts is important."
Statewide, only 62 percent of Missouri teens report wearing their seat belt. Between 2005 and 2007, 56 teens in central Missouri were killed in vehicle crashes. Thirty-eight of those young people were not wearing a seat belt.
Some students have seen the benefits of wearing a seat belt firsthand and don't need the competition to make them wear one.
"My sister was in a car wreck last week, and it totaled her car," said MHS senior Casey Bedford, who said he wears his safety belt devoutly. "She survived it with minor injuries because she had her seat belt on."
Bedford said he plans to participate in the competitions, and help spread awareness among his classmates and peers about the importance of wearing seat belts. "They really do save lives," he said.
Missouri high schools can participate in one or more components of the Battle of the Belts program. Prizes will be awarded for each component.
Prizes include:
• $1,000 to the Missouri school with the highest overall safety belt use rate
• $1,000 to the Missouri school with the most improved safety belt use rate
• $1,000 to the student or group producing a winning 30-second video PSA for safety belt use, and professional production of the video and possible use in local and statewide media
• Regional monetary awards for the highest overall safety belt use rate and most improved safety belt use rate.
The 2009 Battle of the Belt Challenge is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Transportation.
For more information about the competition, visit the Web site http://www.savemoyouth.com/.
