Kelly High School students have among highest seat belt usage rate in region

SIKESTON -- A Scott County high school is one of four Southeast Missouri schools recognized statewide for its students' high rate of seat belt usage.

Nearly 97 percent of Kelly High School students wore their seat belts during Missouri Department of Transportation's annual Battle of the Belt seat belt use challenge. The Benton school had the third highest rate in the Southeast region.

The highest rate in the Southeast Missouri District belonged to Saxony Lutheran High School in Jackson, 98.9 percent followed by Notre Dame High School in Cape with 98.37 percent.

"We're proud of our local schools for showing a commitment to buckling up and wanting to help other teens understand the importance of wearing a seat belt every time they ride in or drive a vehicle," said Sandy Taurone, regional contact for Battle of the Belt and senior maintenance technician for MoDOT's Southeast District. "Seat belts save lives."

Across the state, 195 schools participated in this year's Battle of the Belt Challenge-a competition to raise seat belt use among teens. Forty-three Southeast Missouri high schools participated in the challenge.

"The Battle of the Belt has been going on for six years, and the Southeast District has the most high schools -- over 90 -- in the region," Taurone said. "Our district also has the lowest seat belt use rate out of Missouri."

Traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for people 15-20 years old, Taurone said. Results of a 2013 survey among Missouri teens indicate 33 percent of teens are not wearing their seat belt putting them at greater risk to get killed or injured in traffic crashes. Seven out of 10 teens killed in Missouri traffic crashes are unbuckled.

"We began preparing for this challenge in late September. The battle begins in November, and the Southeast Coalition sends out information to every high school in the Southeast District," Taurone said.

Schools that choose to participate then receive a kit with miscellaneous promotional items such as T-shirts and stress balls, Taurone said.

Participating schools launched two surprise seat belt checks at each school to measure student seat belt use before and after the six-week educational campaign, Taurone said.

For the complete story, see an upcoming edition of the Standard Democrat.