FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Get It Together Did It Again in Increasing Seat Belt Use!
Twenty local high schools successfully completed the seat belt use challenge.
Hampton Roads, Va. (March 2023) – Drive Safe Hampton Roads (DSHR) recognized twenty local high schools for their participation in the Get It Together Seat Belt Challenge. Thanks to students’ efforts, seat belt use by teens increased 6.4% percent from the program’s starting baseline percentage, making it 86.57%. This is higher than the 2021 state average belt use of 81.7%. In addition, four area high schools increased seat belt usage over 20%.
Students and faculty that were a part of the program stressed the importance of wearing seat belts every time students ride in a vehicle. Strategies included seat belt checks, pledge drives, videos and poster contests as well as other educational student activities. Schools earned points for each of these activities that attributed to medal level award.
Participating high schools are from the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg/James City County, and York County.
For a list of medal winners visit our website: www.drivesafehr.org/git.
“The Get It Together Seat Belt Challenge is a long-standing program that promotes the lifesaving message to buckle up.” said Patricia Davidson, Get It Together Chair. “School faculty and students faced new challenges during the program and finished as champions. The program has been in area high schools since 1995.”
According to the DMV, in 2022, there were 3,859 crashes involving teens between the ages of 15-19 in Hampton Roads. There were 4 fatalities and 1,244 injuries. Programs such as the Get It Together Seatbelt Challenge continue to be needed in Virginia’s high schools, spreading the message and educating teenagers of the importance of wearing a seatbelt.
Since 1995, Drive Safe Hampton Roads has positively influenced the traffic safety habits of over 850,000 students. The Christopher King Foundation, State Farm®, AAA Tidewater Virginia, and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles provide funding for the program.
“AAA Tidewater Virginia is proud to be part of the Get It Together Seat Belt Challenge for the 26th year,” said Holly Dalby, AAA Tidewater Director of Public Affairs & Marketing. “These schools and students worked hard throughout the year promoting seat belt use to their peers, teachers and families. This program makes a lasting impression on all involved and increases seat belt use, which ultimately saves lives.”
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About Drive Safe Hampton Roads: Drive Safe Hampton Roads (DSHR) is a non-profit regional coalition whose goal is to increase the community's involvement and awareness of traffic safety issues. For over 34 years, Drive Safe Hampton Roads has been dedicated to preventing crashes, injuries, and fatalities on the region’s roadways. The 2022 data is preliminary and subject to change. Some crash information may not have been reported or finalized by Law Enforcement.
Media Contact:
Drive Safe Hampton Roads
Phone: 757-498-2562
Email: dshr@drivesafehr.org
