Battle of the Belts

Award for highest overall seat belt use was presented to Wesley Chapel High School.

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Program Sponsors

Community Traffic Safety Team


Safe Kids Florida Suncoast Pasco Council

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American teenagers.  In fact, teens have the highest fatality rate in motor vehicle crashes than any other age group. They have the lowest safety belt use rates of all drivers. This rate is even lower when there are multiple teens in the vehicle.

The Battle of the Belts program was initiated in an effort to change these statistics and increase safety belt use amongst teenagers. This year in Pasco County, this campaign was conducted at participating high schools in March 2010.  The goal of this campaign is for high school students to convince their peers to always wear their safety belts. Student organization like S.A.D.D. or student government associations were asked to create a unique campaign for their high school to encourage fellow students to wear their seat belts during every ride in a motor vehicle. High Schools in Pasco County were invited to participate through their school resource officers (SROs).

Award categories include 1) highest seat belt use, 2) most improved seat belt use, 3) best school campaign, 4) best public service announcement, 5) best poster, and 6) best essay.

Participating High Schools include: Anclote, Gulf, Hudson, James W. Mitchell, Land O' Lakes, Pasco, Ridgewood, River Ridge, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.

2010 Battle of the Belts Winning Schools

Poster Contest
First Place - Linda Lovett, Hudson High School, $200 award
Second Place - Brandi Albenze (with Alyssa Allen and Emily Carter), J.W. Mitchell High School, $100 award 

Essay Contest
First Place - Lydia Kinney, J.W. Mitchell High School, $200 award
Second Place - Marissa Flanders, Zephyrhills High School, $100 award

PSA Contest
J.W. Mitchell High School - $500 award to S.A.D.D.

Campaign Book
J.W. Mitchell High School - $700 award to S.A.D.D.

Highest % in INCREASED USE
Gulf High School - $700 award to S.A.D.D.

HIGHEST OVERALL SEAT BELT USE
Wesley Chapel High School - $1000 award to S.A.D.D.

Congratulations to the winners and THANK YOU to our sponsors and schools for making the 2010 Battle of the Belts program possible!