Missouri teens are not afraid of a challenge. They know the importance of buckling up, and now 17 high schools have the prize money to prove it.

More than 100 Missouri high schools participated in the statewide Battle of the Belt challenge from Oct. 1 – Nov. 30, 2006. These schools competed against each other to increase safety belt use among students and potentially save lives. The challenge involved an initial surprise safety belt check of students, followed by a peer-designed educational blitz and a final surprise safety belt check to determine if a change of behavior occurred.

Two winners were chosen from each of nine regions. Each regional winner received $250, and two statewide winners received $500.

The program was jointly sponsored by the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety and American Family Insurance. American Family provided the prize money for the competition.

“Over the years, the effectiveness of this program has been proven with more teens buckling up. We hope to continue this program and see even more of an increase among teens,” said Pam Holt, trauma prevention education coordinator for St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. Holt was a leader in encouraging the Battle of the Belt program in Missouri.

Teens are an important audience for safety belt messages. The Missouri Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Missouri Safety Center, recently conducted a study showing only 56 percent of Missouri teenagers wear safety belts. From 2003-2005, more than 500 young people died in Missouri traffic crashes, and 75 percent were not buckled up.

Congratulations to all 2006 Battle of the Belt winners!

Statewide winners:

Highest Use                      Ava High School (100%)

Most Improved                  Southern Reynolds Co. R-II High School – Ellington (increase of 46%)

Regional winners:

North Central

Highest Use                      Putnam County R-1 High School  (78%)

Most Improved                  Hale R-1 High School (increase of 40%)

Northeast

Highest Use                      Warren County High School (94%)

Most Improved                  Warren County High School (increase of 41%)

Kansas City Area

Highest Use                      Park Hill South High School (92%)

Most Improved                  Lawson High School (increase of 13%)

Central

Highest Use                      Fatima High School – Westphalia (90%)

Most Improved                  Lincoln R-II High School (increase of 44%)

St. Louis Area

Highest Use                      Clayton High School (97.3%)

Most Improved                  New Haven High School (increase of 13.8%)

Southwest

Highest Use                      Cassville High School (95%)

Most Improved                  East Newton High School (increase of 23%)

Springfield

Highest Use                      Ava High School (100%)

Most Improved                  Mountain Grove R-3 High School (increase of 39%)

South Central

Highest Use                      Newburg High School (99%)

Most Improved                  Southern Reynolds Co. R-II High School (increase of 46%)

Southeast

Highest Use                      Notre Dame High School (94%)

Most Improved                  Hayti High School (45% increase)