The 2014 National Organizations of Youth Safety (NOYS) Seat Belts Save Challenge is a four-week campaign designed to educate teen drivers about the dangers of riding in a car without wearing a seat belt, and increase the number of teens who regularly wear a seat belt while driving or riding in a car. Participating schools can win recognition from the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and coverage in national media in the United States.
USA 2012 Statistics Show 60.7 percent of teen passengers (16 to 19) who died in crashes weren’t wearing their seatbelts. 51.2 percent of teen drivers (16 to 19) who died in crashes weren’t belted.
Who Can Participate in the Seat Belts Save Challenge?
The 2014 NOYS Seat Belts Save Challenge is open to all high school students in the United States.
When is the Seat Belts Save Challenge?
The 2014 Fall Seat Belt Saves Challenge registration opens on September 30th and closes on October 17th. The Challenge runs from September 30th to November 18th. Your school can conduct the four-week challenge at any time during that period. The final report is due on December 5th.
Why Should My School Participate in the Seat Belts Save Challenge?
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S. Young drivers (15 to 20 years old) represent only six percent (12.6 million) of drivers in the United States, but account for nine percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes and 13 percent of drivers in all crashes. Data also shows that teens are not wearing their seat belts on a consistent basis. In 2012, more than half (51.2 percent) of drivers 16 to 19 years old killed in fatal crashes were not wearing seat belts. In the last three years, this number has increased by six percent during a time when the seat belt use rate has grown for people of other ages.
NOYS, with funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has developed Seat Belts Save, a national seat belt challenge to encourage greater seat belt use by teens across the country. The Seat Belts Save Challenge is a fun way to spread the word about a serious subject. Participants that approach the challenge in a fun and creative way will better reach their peers with these important messages. Prizes will be awarded to the schools that demonstrate the highest seat belt use rate, the greatest increase in seat belt use, and the best education campaigns. Remember, seat belts are the best defense in a crash but they only work if you wear them. Buckle up every time.