Deputies to Teens: Buckle Up for 'Battle of the Belts' Safety Campaign

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has issued a challenge to high school students: buckle up to ensure safe driving and earn kudos for your school in this year's "Battle of the Belts."

All Hillsborough County schools are invited to particiapte in the campaign, which is run the week before the holiday break, which this year is Dec. 12-16. The aim is to promote seat-belt usage and especially so over winter break and New Year's Eve.

In its invitation to participate, the sheriff's office reports that the fatality rate in motor vehicle crashes, among all age groups, is the highest for teens. Also, that teens have the lowest safety belt use rates, which is even lower when teens travel in groups.

The campaign aims to both cut down on the number of crashes and increase the usage of seat belts.

Bloomingdale placed first among the eight high schools participating in last year's Battle of the Belts, taking home the award for "Highest Percentage of Overall Seat Belt Use." Gaither won the award for "Most Improved Seat Belt Compliance" and Lennard High scored tops for "Best Overall Seat Belt Campaign."

This year's caterogies include also "Best Public Safety Announcement" and "Best Poster."

Seat belt use is determined by compliance checkpoints at each school, at which time vehicles are checked to determine if teenaged drivers and passengers are buckled up.

Information online includes both a press release and an application for the Battle of the Belts campaign.

For information, call: 813-247-8072.