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April 13, 2012 For more information, contact:
Kingston High School receives award for 2011 Battle of the Belt CADET—The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety recently honored Kingston High School for its accomplishments in the 2011 Battle of the Belt high school seat belt challenge, which ran from Oct. 3 to Nov. 11, 2011. The Battle of the Belt challenge, designed to increase seat belt use in teens, features an unannounced peer-conducted safety belt survey of students, followed by a peer-designed educational campaign, with a final surprise safety belt survey to conclude if more students are buckling up. Students were also able to submit a 30-second video with a focus on encouraging their fellow classmates to buckle up. Some 155 schools participated in the challenge, including 38 schools in the Central District. Kingston High School received the silver-level award, which required a final seat belt usage of 95 to 98 percent. Kingston High School’s initial survey showed 55.17 percent of the students were wearing their seat belts. The final survey results showed 96.43 percent of students were belted, for a total improvement of 75 percent. Schools with the highest overall score received a traveling plaque, a banner and a $350 check from American Family Insurance. Schools in the most improved category also received these prizes. If schools rated 91 percent or higher in seat belt usage, they became eligible for a gold (99-100 percent), silver (95-98 percent) or bronze (91-44 percent) banner. For the public service announcement videos, first place received $500, second place received $300 and third place received $200. A complete list of Battle of the Belt winners from 2011 is available by visiting http://www.modot.mo.gov/Safety/BOTB_Info&History.htm. Schools may now register online for the 2012 competition at http://www.modot.gov/Safety/BOTB_Join.htm. The competition dates for 2012 are slated from Oct. 1 to Nov. 9. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, American Family Insurance and the Missouri College of Emergency Physicians sponsor the program. The Meramec Region Coalition for Roadway Safety Subcommittee also supports the Battle of the Belt challenge by encouraging safe driving for teens. Besides encouraging the use of seat belts, the coalition urges the use of booster seats and child safety seats and discourages drinking and driving, the use of cell phones while driving and other types of distracted driving. The coalition strives to be actively involved in promoting the Arrive Alive message by encouraging roadway safety during community events and school presentations. The Meramec Region coalition was formed in January 2012 for the counties of Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington to localize the efforts of the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety for the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Central District, which includes 18 counties. Law enforcement, fire departments, EMS personnel, educators, healthcare professionals and the general public are invited to participate in the coalition and learn more about its efforts to reduce fatalities and accidents. The next meeting of the Meramec Region Coalition for Roadway Safety Subcommittee is scheduled for June 2012 at Meramec Regional Planning Commission, 4 Industrial Drive in St. James. For more information, contact Kathleen Nahm at MRPC at 573-265-2993 or by email at knahm@meramecregion.org.
Kingston High School received a silver banner for its participation in the 2011 Battle of the Belt competition. By the end of the competition, 96.43 percent of Kingston High School students were wearing their seat belts while driving. Kingston needed a final score of at least 95 percent for the silver-level award. Front row from left: Bonnie Prigge, Meramec Regional Planning Commission executive director; Cpl. Warren Robinson, Missouri Highway Patrol Troop C; Angela Camillo, student council sponsor; Kingston Student Council members: Kara Missey, Stephanie Griffin, Susan Schaefer, sponsor; Bethany Luther, Selena Eckhoff, Mackenzie Davis and Lexi Tiefenauer; Marvin Wright, Washington County presiding commissioner; Andy Skiles, Washington County sheriff; and Todd Moyers, Washington County first district commissioner. Second row from left: Ryan Barton, Jennifer Haarmann, Sarah Cain, Stephanie Gray, Erika Sutch, Josh Camillo and Lucas White. Back row from left: Matt McCoy, Alan Shawgo, Ross Politte, Emilia Holzwarth, M.J. Guenther, Seth Kamper, Cody Barton and Brendan McCoy.
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