FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Increasing Seat Belt Use Among Teens
Twenty-three area high schools are participating in challenge to increase seat belt use
Hampton Roads, Va. (October 13, 2022) – Twenty-three local high schools are competing in the 2022-2023 Get It Together High School Seat Belt Challenge. The aim of this challenge is to increase seat belt use and improve driving behaviors for teens in Hampton Roads. Get It Together uses a student driven education program and seat belt observations to change behavior. This year’s challenge will lead off National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 17-22, 2022).
According to 2021 statistics from the DMV, there were 3,802 teens involved in crashes in the Hampton Roads area, resulting in 1,303 injuries and 9 fatalities. Lack of a seat belt accounted for 5 teen deaths in Hampton Roads out of the 33 unrestrained teen fatalities statewide. Investigative reports show the primary causes of teen deaths on the roadways are driver inexperience, driver distraction, no seat belts, and excessive speed. Participating schools will stress the importance of wearing seat belts every time students ride in a vehicle.
This year’s contest includes 23 schools representing the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg-James City County, and York County. For more information on this year’s challenge, visit our website: Drive Safe HR GIT Challenge. Pictures from this event are available at: Drive Safe HR Facebook GIT Album.
DSHR has organized the Get It Together Challenge since 1995, positively influencing the traffic safety habits of over 850,000 students. 2022-2023 is our 25th active year. AAA Tidewater Virginia, State Farm®, Christopher King Foundation, and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles provide grant funding for the program. Community Advocates, GEICO, and Farmers Insurance provide additional support.
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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. For more information: www.drivesafehr.org or call (757) 498-2562.
Media Contact:
Drive Safe Hampton Roads
Phone: 757-498-2562
Email: dshr@drivesafehr.org
