Get It Together Did It Again in Increasing Seat Belt Use

Hampton Roads, Va. (March 2025) – Drive Safe Hampton Roads (DSHR) recognized sixteen local high schools for their participation in the Get It Together Seat Belt Challenge. Thanks to students’ efforts, seat belt use by teens increased 8.47% percent from the program’s starting baseline percentage, making it 89.38%. This is higher than the state average belt use of 75.6%. In addition, two area high schools increased seat belt usage over 15% from their baseline use rate.

Students and faculty involved in 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 activities. Schools earned points for activities which attributed to medal level awards.

Participating high schools are from the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach. 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 Holly Dalby, Get It Together Chair. “Students and faculty worked together to find creative ways to enforce the buckle up message throughout their schools, and they all finished as champions.”

According to the Virginia DMV, in 2024, there were 3,846 teens (age 15-19) involved in crashes in Hampton Roads, resulting in 1,246 injuries. 61 teens between the ages of 15-19 died on the roads of the Commonwealth with seven of those fatalities in Hampton Roads. Programs such as the Get It Together Seatbelt Challenge are critical 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 28th year,” said Holly Dalby, AAA Tidewater Director of Public Affairs & Marketing. “The students work hard promoting seat belt use to their peers, teachers and families. The program makes a lasting impression on all involved and increases seat belt use, which ultimately saves lives.”