Bucks Rewarded to Drivers Who Buckle Up

Safe Kids Kansas, State Farm and KDOT Partner for Safety Message

TOPEKA, Kan. – Thousands of vehicles will be traveling the Kansas roadways during the Labor Day weekend. Many families will head out on one last camping trip or getaway as the school year begins.  The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Safe Kids Kansas, State Farm and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) want to encourage families to buckle up and drive safely to protect their most valuable asset, their families.

From Aug. 26 through Sept. 9, a safety belt awareness campaign called “Bucks for Buckles” is being held in 56 cities across Kansas. One dollar bills are being distributed by local volunteers to drivers who have all occupants buckled up securely in their vehicle. Those riding unrestrained will receive educational materials about the effectiveness of seat belts and child safety seats in saving lives and reducing injuries.

“No one can predict when they will be involved in a motor vehicle crash, yet almost all of us will be involved in an automobile crash in our lifetime. Last year, 382 people lost their lives on Kansas roadways and 50 percent of them were unbuckled,” said Cherie Sage, State Director for Safe Kids Kansas. “The single most effective means of protecting the lives of you and your passengers are wearing seat belts and using appropriate child restraints every time you ride in the vehicle – even short distances.”

Local Agent Kale Nelson with State Farm Insurance will be participating in this program to promote wearing seatbelts, in both Fort Scott and Uniontown.

Exact dates will not be announced.

One dollar bills are being distributed by local volunteers to drivers who have all occupants buckled up securely in their vehicle.