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Teens must click to win belt contest

Photo from Battle of the Belts

Susan Joel, chairwoman of the Hillsborough County Community Traffic Safety Team, at left, presents a check for $500 to students from Newsome High for producing the best public service announcement about buckling up during the Battle of the Belts competition in 2008.

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By LAURA FRAZIER

lfrazier@tampatrib.com

Published: November 11, 2009

Laura Frazier

BRANDON - It didn't take long for motorists to mind the message and strap themselves in.

Five days after Florida's primary seat belt law went into effect June 30, a statewide roadway observational study (translation: guys with clipboards on the side of the road) found drivers and front-seat passengers wore seat belts at a higher rate than the national average - for the first time.

The survey, conducted by an independent research firm under the direction of the Florida Department of Transportation, showed 85.2 percent of front seat occupants observed at arterial and collector road intersections and highway exit ramps throughout the state were buckled up.

Closer to home, the numbers were a couple notches higher. The study showed 87.3 percent of 3,263 people observed in Hillsborough County were strapped in.

A similar survey is set to play out at high schools across the county Monday when the Battle of the Belts clicks into action.

The annual contest, launched in 2007 by the Hillsborough County Community Traffic Safety Team, aims to increase teen safety belt use.

During the weeklong contest, volunteers stationed in high school parking lots across the county make surprise spot checks. The school with the highest percentage of buckled-in drivers wins bragging rights, cash and computers.

Top honors in 2008 went to Freedom High, where volunteers determined 83 percent of student drivers arriving at school were buckled up.

Sponsor State Farm Insurance bankrolled the program this year to the tune of $10,000. Cash prizes and laptops will be awarded in January to the winner. Prizes are also awarded for the school that shows the most improvement from previous tallies (Gaither in 2008), the best schoolwide seat belt safety campaign (Lennard in 2008) and the best student-produced public service announcement about buckling up (Newsome in 2008).

Tanya Cielo, spokeswoman for Battle of the Belts, said organizers hope to involve all 27 Hillsborough County high schools in the contest.

"It is such a great feeling to know that we are saving lives," Cielo said. "Each year more students and more schools participate and make a greater impact."

For information, go to www.battleofthebelts .com.

SEATBELTS NOW PRIME CONCERN FOR POLICE

The Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti Safety Belt Law requires all drivers and front seat passengers in a moving vehicle to wear a safety belt. Police previously could ticket an unbelted driver only when the motorist was stopped for another infraction.

Valrico residents Laura and Vincent Marchetti launched a grassroots campaign to pass the bill after their daughter Katie, a Durant High School student, died in a crash in March 2006 while not wearing a seatbelt. Dozens of the teen's friends rallied around the Marchettis by travelling to Tallahassee to lobby lawmakers and organizing local events and fundraisers to spread the word about their cause.

The bill also represents the work of former state Rep. Irv Slosberg, who lost his 14-year-old daughter Dori in a 1996 crash near Boca Raton. Four other teens died in the accident. None was wearing a seatbelt.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates the law will save 124 lives, prevent 1,733 serious injuries, and save the state $408 million in costs each year.

Fines and fees for violators of the law total $101.

Send traffic information, comments or questions to Laura Frazier at lfrazier @tampatrib.com or call (813) 627-4767.

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