2022-2023 High School Seat Belt Challenge
Let’s congratulate Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School on winning the 2022-2023 High School Seat Belt Challenge! The students did an excellent job. Bonner and Prendie had the highest increase in seat belt use with a 16.99 % increase. The Student Council received a mini grant for all their hard work promoting seat belt usage. Any increase in seat belt use makes a difference!
Information on the 2023-2024 High School Seat Belt Challenge
The DCTMA is working with interested Delaware County high schools and student organizations (i.e., SADD, Student Council, prom committee, etc.) to challenge the student body to increase their percentage of seat belt users.
Participating schools will compete for a $500 cash prize for their organization and the Seat Belt Challenge plaque, which will be displayed all year at the winning school. Also, the school with the highest percentage (over 90%) seat belt use will be awarded a $250 cash prize. All participating organizations will also get t-shirts for their student members.
How will it work?
- We will first introduce the “High School Seat Belt Challenge” to the students
- At the beginning of the school year, the DCTMA will conduct an un-announced survey to track the number of student drivers and student passengers who wear their seat belts on their way to school.
- We will announce those results at the assembly and challenge the students to increase their results. The DCTMA will conduct a second anonymous, un-announced survey, approximately two months after the assembly and compare usage rates. The school with the highest percentage increase will be awarded the grant and plaque.
- Each participating organization is responsible for heightening awareness of seat belt importance to its student body during these months. The DCTMA will provide High School Seat Belt Challenge t-shirts with the logos of our sponsors on the back, and the students in the participating school organizations will wear them in school to assist them with their efforts. This is a great advertising opportunity for your business, because these t-shirts will be seen by approximately 13,000 faculty and students at the high schools within Delaware County. Depending on your level of sponsorship, you will also have the opportunity to participate in the awards ceremony at the end of the school year to further promote your business. The press is always invited to attend this awards ceremony.
- Through reinforcement and education, we hope this will evolve into a life-long habit.
Click Here for 2023-2024 High School Seat Belt Challenge Partnership Opportunities
Congratulations to Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School on WINNING the 2021-2022 High School Seat Belt Challenge!
The students did an excellent job this year. Bonner and Prendie had the highest increase in seat belt use with an 8.83 % increase in seat belt use from the beginning of the year when a seat belt count was conducted, to the end of the year when a second count was conducted. The Student Council received a mini grant for all their hard work promoting seat belt usage. The students raised awareness in their school by giving out fake seat belt citations to remind the student body to buckle up. Congratulate the students on a great job. Any increase in seat belt use makes a difference! Thank you to our sponsors, Republic Bank, Wheat Services/Easton Coach, Neumann University and Penn State Brandywine.
2018-2019 High School Seat Belt Challenge
Congratulations to Chichester High School for winning the 11th Annual DCTMA High School Seat Belt Challenge! Chichester students took on the challenge of buckling up, and they increased their seat belt use percentage by 15% over the course of the school year! They had the largest increase in seat belt use of the Delaware County high schools. Congratulations are also in order for Archbishop John Carroll High School for having the highest percent seat belt use overall. Both schools did a terrific job this year, and are demonstrating safe carpooling efforts. We look forward to working with all of the Delaware County High Schools again next year to improve seat belt use and carpooling safety across the county!
“Congratulations to the students of Chichester High School for stepping up and winning the Delaware County TMA High School Seatbelt Safety Challenge this year,” said Jana L. Tidwell, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Car crashes are the leading cause of death for all teens, yet teens have a lower rate of seat belt usage than all other drivers. Wearing your seat belt is the best defense against injury or death in the event of a crash. Chichester students are certainly an example to be followed for all teen drivers when it comes to wearing seatbelts and potentially saving lives.”
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S. Every year, more than 5,000 young adults between 16 and 20 years of age are killed in car crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It’s important to remember, though, that these deaths are preventable through effective programs and policies.
For more information on the High School Seat Belt Challenge and our other safety programs, visit our Community Traffic Safety Project Page at: CTSP
