Idaho High School Wins National “Seat Belts Save Challenge”

Contest By National Organizations for Youth Safety, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the National Road Safety Foundation Challenges Teens to Increase Seat Belt Usage at Their Schools

ALEXANDRIA, VA / ACCESSWIRE / December 3, 2015 / Nampa High School in Nampa, Idaho, has won the “Seat Belts Save Challenge,” a nationwide competition organized by the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) with support from The National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The school, which won for best overall education campaign, receives a $1,500 prize.

The Seat Belts Save Challenge was initiated to increase seat belt usage among young people who are at particular risk from death or injury in traffic crashes because of their low belt usage rate. Last year, more than half of teen drivers killed in crashes and more than 60% of teen passengers killed were not wearing seat belts.

NOYS and its partners invited high schools throughout the country to develop a local campaign to increase belt usage. The Seat Belts Save Challenge is documented by an unannounced seat belt check before the campaign, followed by another unannounced check after the school’s two-week education and awareness campaign.

The Seat Belts Save Challenge has three winning categories: best overall campaign, greatest improvement in seat belt usage, and highest seat belt use rate. Heritage High School in Newport News, Virginia, won the challenge for the highest seat belt usage, achieving an 85% usage rate among its 1,300 students. Shelley High School, with 600 students in Shelley, Idaho, won for greatest improvement in belt usage, upping their rate by 11%. Each of the winning schools received a $1,500 prize.

Best overall campaign winner Nampa High School, with some 1,500 students, teamed with local police and fire departments, the Idaho Transportation Department and several community groups to spread the message “Buckle Up Everytime, Everywhere.” Backed by extensive use of social media, the campaign launched with a lunch event featuring a giant pledge poster and a buckle up race using a police cruiser. A two-month education campaign included visits by students to area elementary schools, talking to kids and parents about seat belts and the importance of having children under 13 riding only in the back seat.

Nampa High School went from a non-usage rate of 26% to less than one percent at the end of the campaign.

“We love that more students at schools across the country are wearing their seat belts and are encouraging others to buckle up too,” said Dr. Mark Rosekind, Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Seat belts save lives. Getting into the good-habit of buckling up at a young age is a smart start.”

“We are pleased to see that the Seat Belts Save Challenge is making a difference,” said Anita Boles, CEO of NOYS. “We continue to be impressed by the commitment and creativity of our youth as they get out the important message that seat belts save lives.”

“Education is a crucial component of teen driver safety,” said Michelle Anderson, NRSF Director of Operations. “We thank the young people at the participating schools that participated for their great work that makes a difference.”

A new Seat Belts Save Challenge is currently in progress.

More information and contest details are at www.seatbeltssave.org.

The National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) is a coalition of national non-profit and youth serving organizations, government agencies, and for-profit businesses working together toward the common goal of addressing critical safety issues that affect youth in the United States. NOYS builds partnerships to save lives, prevent injuries, and promote safe and healthy lifestyles among all youth while encouraging youth empowerment and leadership. For more information, visit www.noys.org and www.seatbeltssave.org.

The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc. (NRSF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded more than 50 years ago, produces traffic safety programs on distracted driving, speed and aggression, impaired driving, drowsy driving, driver proficiency, pedestrian safety, and a host of other safety issues. It distributes the programs free of charge to schools, police, and traffic safety advocates, community groups and individuals. NRSF also sponsors contests to engage teens in promoting safe driving to their peers and in their communities. For more information or to download free programs, visit www.nrsf.org or www.teenlane.org.

Contact: David Reich, david@reichcommunications.com, 914-325-9997

SOURCE: The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc.

ReleaseID: 434336