Untitled Document

Idaho schools earn recognition, cash for highway safety outreach efforts

Safer driving is an important benefit for young people participating in highway safety projects nationwide. Extra cash for their schools is also a big motivator.

Several Idaho schools recently earned recognition and money for their winning safety efforts.

“It’s truly encouraging to see Idaho’s young people promote a message of safe driving to their peers and the rest of us,” said John Tomlinson, highway safety manager for the Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety.

Leading that group is Burley Senior High School, which was awarded a $100,000 grant from State Farm in December for the school’s teenage driver safety video. The award was one of 22 given nationwide to winners of State Farm’s “Celebrate My Drive” program.

(Pictured right: State Farm Agent Adam Haynes presented Burley High School students Devin Loveland and Josh Beck a check for $100,000 during a school assembly.)

Burley High was one of 100 finalists, chosen from 681 high school submissions, to compete for one of the grants. High schools submitted creative videos or photographs and proposals designed to address teenage driver safety issues in their local communities. The winners were determined by more than 437,000 total public votes from across the U.S.

They also described how they would support State Farm’s message to young drivers -- Drive 2N2: 2 eyes on the road and 2 hands on the wheel.

Winning videos from the finalists, including Burley High, are available for viewing at www.celebratemydrive.com.

Two other Idaho high schools scored big in a national seat belt challenge in January. Nampa High School and Shelley High School came away with top honors and cash for their efforts to improve seat belt use in their schools, scoring wins in two of three competition categories.

The “Seat Belts Save Challenge” was a nationwide competition organized by the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) with support from the National Roadway Safety Foundation (NRSF), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A new Seat Belts Save Challenge is currently underway at www.seatbeltssave.org.

NOYS and its partners invited U.S. high schools to develop a local campaign to increase seat belt usage. The Seat Belts Save Challenge was documented by an unannounced check before the campaign, followed by another check after the school’s education and awareness campaign.

NAMPA HIGH SCHOOL

Nampa High School embraced a message of “Buckle up every time, everywhere” by first conducting an unannounced seat belt check at campus entrances. Overall, 26 percent of vehicle occupants were not wearing seat belts. With that number in mind, the students launched a safety campaign to educate Nampa High and the city of Nampa that seat belts save lives. Their spring campaign featured safety presentations, social media outreach, promotions, business involvement and activities. A follow-up seat belt check showed the number of vehicle occupants not wearing seat belts following the school’s safety effort plummeted to .04 percent.

SHELLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Shelley High School’s campaign to increase seat belt use was called “Home for Dinner.” Students produced more than 100 posters, posted seat belt selfies, signed pledges, engaged local businesses and held district-wide assemblies. In addition to talking with younger grades and hosting a coloring contest, the Shelley students participated in a “Russet Relay” that involved teams of four getting in and out of a car and buckling up correctly in the fastest time. Winners of the relay got an opportunity to use the local fire department's "Jaws of Life." The school’s safety efforts increased seat belt use by 10 percent. Local emergency responders put on a tailgate party for the students as a reward the work.

Besides recognition, the two schools were awarded $1,500 each for their winning efforts as part of the national seat belt challenge.