CANTON, Ohio (May 1, 2019) –Health and safety officials in Stark County are working together to prevent fatal vehicle crashes and near misses – that is the goal behind the 16^th annual Seat Belt Challenge, taking place Saturday, May 18. The event allows area teenagers to learn the importance of seat belts and responsible driving.

Teens, parents and family members are encouraged to attend the 2019 Seat Belt Challenge, a free, fun-filled event being held at Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Registration is at 9 a.m., and the event starts at 10 a.m.

Students from all area high schools are expected to compete in the Seat Belt Challenge. Each four-student team competes in a timed obstacle race, which includes buckling-up in an Ohio Army National Guard Humvee and wearing “fatal vision goggles” to simulate alcohol impairment while running through an obstacle. 

The Seat Belt Challenge includes other fun activities, such as the vertical jump challenge, K9 demonstrations and free cotton candy and popcorn for participants. In addition, Q92 WDJQ radio will be broadcasting live.

All attendees will be entered into a raffle to win prizes including Cedar Point tickets, Akron RubberDucks tickets, African Safari tickets, waterpark tickets, gift cards, gas cards, Sluggers & Putters passes, AAA memberships, car care buckets and much more.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics show that in 2016 a total of 818 teen (15- to 18-year-old) drivers and 569 passengers died in passenger vehicles driven by teen drivers, and 58 percent of those passengers were NOT wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crash.

Another startling fact is that almost 64 percent of teens killed in traffic crashes in Stark County from 2010 – March 2018 were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

“It only takes about three seconds to buckle a seat belt, but it is the single most effective way to avoid being killed or seriously injured in a crash,” added Lori Leonard, trauma injury prevention coordinator at Aultman Hospital. According to NHTSA, seat belt use saved 14,955 lives in 2017.

The 2019 Seat Belt Challenge is presented by the following partners: Aultman Health Foundation, Canton Chair Rental, Canton Public Health, Ohio Army National Guard, Perry Police Department, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Q92 WDJQ Radio, Stark County Safe Communities and the Stark County Sheriff’s Office. 

The sponsors include Esber Beverage, Ohio Department of Public Safety, Perry Adult Booster Club, Pizza Oven, Sky Zone, Sluggers & Putters, AAA Ohio Auto Club, AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, State Farm and Smith Ambulance. 

ADDITIONAL STATISTICS:

• In Stark County, between 2011-2014, 82 percent of teens in fatal crashes were not wearing a seatbelt. Between 2015-2018, 40 percent of teens in fatal crashes were not wearing a seat belt. This means that in these crashes, teen seat belt use in Stark County increased from 18 percent (2011-2014) to 60 percent (2014-2018).
• Overall seatbelt use in Stark County has increased from 74 percent in 2011 to 95.9 percent in 2018.

About Safe Communities

Stark County Safe Communities is a program developed to establish and/or expand partnerships to achieve safer, healthier communities throughout Ohio and in return reduce costs associated with injury. The Stark County Safe Communities Coalition works with law enforcement agencies, local governments, schools, businesses, health departments, hospitals and community and advocacy organizations to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities in efforts to promote community-based solutions to address transportation safety and other injury problems.  For more information visit www.sheriff.co.stark.oh.us/SafeCommunity/sc-links.htm.

About Aultman
The Aultman Health Foundation is a nonprofit health care organization serving Stark and surrounding counties. The integrated health care system includes Aultman Hospital, Aultman Orrville Hospital, Aultman Alliance Community Hospital, the locally managed health insurance provider AultCare, The Aultman Foundation and Aultman College. With 1,032 beds, over 700 active physicians and a team of more than 7,000 employees, Aultman is Stark County's largest provider of health care services. For more information, visit www.aultman.org.