Students from Hidden Valley and Cave Spring middle schools who worked on the 2011 “Save Your Tail-Gate, Buckle Up” Campaign were honored last week during an awards presentation ceremony sponsored by Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO). The students were honored for their 2nd place finish in the middle school division of the statewide buckle up campaign which was sponsored by YOVASO, the Allstate Foundation, and the Virginia State Police Association.
The students and the school’s YOVASO Club received a plaque, banner, “Save Your Tail-Gate, Buckle Up” backpacks, and a $200 check.
Central Academy Middle School in Botetourt Co. was the statewide winner in the middle school category of the campaign to increase seat belt use among youth, and Shawsville Middle School in Montgomery Co. placed third.
Forty-eight high and middle schools participated in the annual campaign that ran for 3 weeks from September 26 to October 17. Winners were selected based on the number of educational and awareness activities, the percentage increase in seat belt use by students, and the percentage of students who signed the pledge to always buckle up. Seat belt use at participating schools increased an average of 6 percent by the end of the campaign.
YOVASO is a statewide youth leadership organization aimed at preventing teen-age related traffic crashes and fatalities. The Organization is administered by the Virginia State Police Association (VSPA) and is funded through a federal grant from the Virginia Highway Safety Office. The Allstate Foundation provided a $10,000 grant to help fund the 2011 campaign.
