MISSOURI -- In your Safe Family Report, almost a third of Missouri teenagers are not wearing their seat belts. MoDOT's not happy about these numbers so it's holding a "Battle of the Belts" contest with area schools to increase seat belt usage. Schools can submit a 30 second video encouraging students to wear their seat belts. The winners will receive cash prizes.
"Unfortunately, we need parents, schools and community support to get our teenagers to buckle up. Because that is the single best thing they can do to stay safe while they're driving. Buckling up, slowing down, putting down the cell phone and not texting while driving. Those are all critical key components," said Paula Gough, District 3's engineer for MoDOT.
Meanwhile, MoDOT says the number of teenagers wearing seat belts has increased over the last year from 61 percent to 66 percent.
"It's something that each person has to make a choice when they get in a vehicle, but the more you do it, it becomes a habit, the more you'll become a seat belt user," said Gough.
As part of its seat belt campaign, this Friday, MoDOT along with McDonalds and staff from Hannibal High School will attend the high school's football game. There, students can sign a pledge banner saying they'll wear their seat belts at all times. They'll receive free french fries coupons to McDonalds and could receive a 50 dollar gift card to the restaurant through a drawing at half time.
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