This Thursday, Aug. 29, in conjunction with the Eureka Junior/Senior High School water and sports drink scrimmages, State Farm Insurance – JJ Edwards will partner with Safe Kids Kansas and Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for a safety message. Staff members will be on the west side of McGinnis Field beginning at 4:30 p.m., as patrons make their way to the scrimmages.
Thousands of vehicles will be traveling Kansas roadways during the Labor Day weekend. Many families will head out on one last camping trip or getaway as the school year begins. Safe Kids Kansas, State Farm and KDOT want to encourage families to buckle up and drive safely to protect their most valuable asset, their families.
This year, Aug. 24 through Sept. 8, a safety belt awareness campaign called “Bucks for Buckles” is being held in 43 cities across Kansas. Local volunteers distribute dollar bills to drivers who have all occupants buckled up securely in their vehicles. Those riding unrestrained will receive educational materials about the effectiveness of seat belts and child safety seats in saving lives and reducing injuries.
“No one can predict when they will be involved in a motor vehicle crash, yet almost all of us will be involved in an automobile crash in our lifetime. In 2023, 387 people lost their lives on Kansas roadways and 35 percent of them were unbuckled,” said Cherie Sage, State Director for Safe Kids Kansas. “The most effective way to protect the lives of you and your passengers is to wear seat belts and use appropriate child restraints every time you ride in the vehicle – even short distances.”
According to the 2022 KDOT Seat Belt Survey, only 87 percent of those surveyed were wearing their seat belts. This compares to the national average of 91 percent based on the most recent NHTSA National Occupant Protection Use Survey in 2022. Kansas ranked 38 in belt use in 2021 among 50 states and the District of Columbia. Seat belts save more than 15,000 lives yearly and are the best defense against drunk, aggressive and distracted drivers.
“Seat belts also reduce your chances of having a serious injury by as much as 50 percent,” said Sage. “It’s such a simple thing, so take your life into your own hands and buckle up.”
For more information about safety belt or child safety seat use, call 785296-1223 or visit www. safekidskansas.org, www. safekids.org or Facebook. com/safekidskansas.
