by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman
Approximately 80% of kids are immunized against contagious diseases, but less than 10% are properly restrained while riding in a car. That’s why the ten schools in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, are doing something important by participating in the high school seatbelt challenge.
This past Fall, according to the Bucks County Herald, unannounced baseline surveys were conducted in all public and private high schools in the county and, collectively, the average seatbelt usage among the students who drive to school was 64%.
As part of the initiative, PennDOT’s seatbelt awareness program, survival 101, is presented to middle and high school kids. Student groups at each school use posters, announcements, tee shirts and a variety of other messages to promote wearing seatbelts.
An unannounced follow-up survey will be conducted at each school and the school with the highest seatbelt usage will be awarded trophies and cash grants for safety-related use.
About 35,000 people die in motor vehicle accidents each year and approximately 50%, 17,000 could be saved if they wore seatbelts. Governor Corzine should take note!
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