Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Wearing Seat Belts Pays Off


In addition to potentially saving their life, getting caught wearing a seat belt on Friday, March 11 had a second payoff for some lucky Missouri high school students.

More than 200 students received a $25 gift card for being spotted buckling up and displaying a Buckle Up & Win window cling. More than 175,000 window clings were distributed at Missouri high schools in preparation for Seat Belt Spotter Day on March 11. Students were asked to put them on their cars and buckle up. It was that easy to win.

Seat Belt Spotter Day was part of the youth seat belt campaign that kicked off this month. The campaign pairs education and enforcement to get more teens to buckle up. Teen seat belt use in Missouri is only 66 percent, much lower than state (76 percent) and national (85 percent) seat belt use.

Law enforcement will be out in full force the remainder of the month looking for teens who aren’t buckled up. They won’t be handing out $25 gift cards – they’ll be handing out tickets.

Buckle up!

Missouri Miles

In this month's Missouri Miles, we take a look back at the historic snow storm that hit the state Feb. 1, when snow plow trucks logged 1.1 million miles. We also explain that flashing yellow light you may have seen popping up at Missouri intersections. Then, hop inside the cab of a Missouri truck driver as we continue our truckers on the street series. Don't miss these stories and much more on Missouri Miles!