Iowa students teach others to buckle up

As school gets back in session, youth across the state of Iowa are reminding their peers to buckle up through the Buckle Up or Eat Glass program.

Future Farmers of America Chapters have teamed up with Farm Safety 4 Just Kids and the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau to educate other teens about the importance of safe driving habits on rural roads.

Buckle Up or Eat Glass is a youth-led program that seeks to educate youth in Iowa communities about the risks of driving on rural roads. Each youth group has been provided with the resources to conduct an educational session on rural roadway safety for youth, as well as a community media campaign. The youth group holds a seat belt checkup at an undisclosed location, with prizes given to reward peers for wearing their seat belts.

While the number of Iowans wearing seat belts has continued to increase to 93.1 percent statewide in 2008, usage in rural areas is often lower. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than half of all fatal vehicle crashes occur in rural areas.

These crashes are more likely to have multiple fatalities, a truck involved, a vehicle rollover, a head-on collision and ejected people. Teens can be at greater risk because of inexperience at driving, perceptions of invincibility, peer pressure from others in the vehicle and other driving distractions like texting.

The chapters in the communities of Adair, Anita, Arlington, Blairsburg, Cascade, Clarinda, Eldridge, Fairbank, Harlan, Lamoni, Manchester, Nevada, Oelwein, Shenandoah, Tipton, Troy Mills, Williamsburg and Wellman and the Richland Royals 4-H Club of Orient are participating.

If you would like more information on the Buckle Up or Eat Glass programs, contact Buckle Up or Eat Glass project coordinator Kristy Pellett at 712-243-5574 or Farm Safety 4 Just Kids at 1-800-423-KIDS.

« Metro/Region

Share