Seat belt enforcement now underway near area high schools

In 2018, nearly half of all Kansas teens who died in traffic crashes were not wearing a seat belt, that reflects a similar statistic of nearly 50 percent of all traffic deaths in Kansas were unbuckled. 

That's one of the many reasons why the Kansas Highway Patrol, area law enforcement agencies and agencies in both Missouri and Oklahoma will participate in the annual “High Visibility Seat Belt Enforcement Campaign” near area high schools. The enforcement campaign began yesterday and it will run through March 8. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA) seat belts have been proven to be one of the best ways to keep drivers and passengers safe in the case of a crash. 

This initiative is coupled with the Seat Belts Are for Everyone (SAFE) program in Kansas’ high schools. SAFE is a locally sustained program, administered by the students of the high school they attend.  The focus is on reducing deaths and injuries on Kansas roadways. Currently in Kansas, 168 high schools from 70 counties participate in the SAFE program. www.ktsro.org/safe


“Troopers will be working with local law enforcement partners in an aggressive education and enforcement campaign focused on the importance of seat belt usage,” said Colonel Mark Bruce, Superintendent of the KHP. “Seat belts have been proven to save lives and prevent injuries, and our goal is to make sure all young adults buckle up in all seating positions.” 

Everyone is reminded to buckle up. Every trip. Every time. 

ThinkFast Interactive brings a safety experience to schools

ThinkFast teams travel around the country and provide these hour-long educational programs on various topics.

What would you say or do if your friend was drinking or driving, or texting and driving? These are common questions that participants in the ThinkFast Interactive experiential program may be expected to respond to by acting out a scenario during an event that is visiting schools this week in Kansas.

ThinkFast Interactive is an event that travels across the country to teach teens important safety topics using culturally relevant sources and breakout sessions. Some topics include driver safety and traffic awareness, alcohol safety and awareness and drug misuse and abuse prevention.

Laura Moore, the Seatbelts Are for Everyone State Coordinator for the Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office, said that the organization is based out of Michigan and has four teams that travel across the country and present to middle schools, high schools, colleges and community events.

Hundreds of high school students had the chance to learn about traffic safety behaviors in a fun and entertaining game show-style format. 

“The focus of each presentation can differ, but in Kansas we always focus on traffic safety,” Moore said. “The hour-long presentation is fun, hands on and completely interactive for the students. They compete against each other with questions, dance-offs and other theatrical events. There are multiple opportunities for students to win prizes so it’s also fun for them to walk away with a prize too.”

Moore said that over the years, different schools involved in the SAFE program have been selected to host ThinkFast.

“We hope students leave each presentation with a better understanding and appreciation of Kansas traffic law as well as a few reminders and facts related to seat belt use and risky driving prevention that they can share with family and friends,” Moore said.

“It has been beyond fun and so rewarding to see more than 500 high school students get excited, yell and dance about traffic safety,” Moore said.  “It’s a great change for students, teachers and administrators and it’s all sponsored by KDOT. We are able to reach the population with the highest risk in a fun way. As far as traffic safety education in high schools, I really don’t think it can get any better."

For more information, or to experience what ThinkFast Interactive is like, visit the website at www.thinkfastinteractive.com.

How hot is the inside of that car?

Later today there will be a heat stroke safety demonstration at the South Steps Fridays event at the Kansas Capitol.

The demonstration will show how hot it can get inside of a car, and how quickly that heat turns deadly. They will also give tips and reminders about how to not forget your child in the car.

Today's event is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kansas Capitol, 300 S.W. 10th St., Topeka. If you are unable to come to the event, you can see the social media efforts on twitter @DriveSafeKansas or facebook.com/DriveSafeKansas.