FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, April 30, 2009
CONTACT: Brooke Bohnenkamp, Public Information Office, 605.773.3178
Students Promote Seatbelt Use
PIERRE, SD –High school students all across South Dakota will take home more than books this month. Compliments of fellow students, they’ll also take home a reminder to buckle up.
Students from 16 different high schools are positioning themselves in school parking lots and other high-traffic areas to hand out buckle-up materials and remind people to wear their seatbelts.
These activities are part of the nationwide May Mobilization campaign. It runs from May 1 to May 31 and is designed to encourage seatbelt use.
“Many people tell us they don’t wear seatbelts because they just don’t think about it,” said James Carpenter, South Dakota Office of Highway Safety Director. “These kids are giving you a reminder. I encourage you to use the month of May to get into the seatbelt habit.”
- In 2000, a little more than 53% of South Dakotans buckled up.
- By 2008, more than 70% of South Dakotans were buckling up.
- South Dakota law requires all people under the age of 18 to buckle up.
- South Dakota law requires all people in the front seat to buckle up.
- Children under five years of age and under 40 pounds are required to use an approved child-safety seat.
Included is a list of seatbelt awareness activities planned during the month of May.
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DATE
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LOCATION
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Time
|
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May 1
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Britton High School
|
After school
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May 1
|
Langford High School
|
After school
|
|
May 1
|
Garretson High School
|
After school
|
|
May 4
|
New Underwood High School
|
After school
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|
May 4
|
Box Elder, Douglas High School
|
After school
|
|
May 6
|
White River High School
|
After school
|
|
May 7
|
Canton High School
|
After school
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|
May 8
|
Sioux Falls Washington High School
|
After school
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|
May 11
|
Chamberlain High School
|
After school
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|
May 12
|
Volga, Sioux Valley High School
|
After school
|
|
May 13
|
Dell Rapids High School
|
After school
|
|
May 14
|
Brookings High School
|
After school
|
|
May 15
|
Watertown Hy-Vee
|
5:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.
|
|
May 18
|
Madison High School
|
After school
|
|
May 18
|
Madison -Sunshine Foods
|
5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m.
|
|
May 20
|
Aberdeen Central High School
|
After school
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May 23
|
Sturgis -Lynn’s Dakotamart
|
11:00 a.m. – 1p.m.
Mountain Time
|
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