Last year Regina Weir stood on a median in a downtown Kansas City, Kan., intersection and handed out dollar bills.
It was the “Bucks for Buckles” program, and she was giving dollars to cars whose drivers and passengers were wearing seat belts. Those who were not wearing seat belts received an informational brochure.
The “Bucks for Buckles” program will be back this September in Wyandotte County in a location and date to be determined, Weir said. She is with Safe Kids Metro KC, and she gives presentations and classes in Wyandotte County on a variety of safety issues involving children.
Weir said the organization receives a mini-grant from State Farm Insurance Co., usually around $250 to $300, to do the “Bucks for Buckles” education and awareness program.
Last year in Kansas City, Kan., “I was quite surprised to see so many people wearing their seat belts,” she said.
Drivers told her three main reasons why they wore seat belts: First, they did not want to get a ticket; second, their kids or grandkids had been encouraging them to buckle up, so they got in the habit; and third, they didn’t like the sound of beeping in their cars when they didn’t use the seat belt.
The “Bucks for Buckles” program will start on the Labor Day weekend across Kansas, running Aug. 24-Sept. 6.
It is sponsored by Safe Kids Kansas, State Farm and the Kansas Department of Transportation.
Seat belts save lives, according to Safe Kids Kansas. Kansas ranked 40th in a national survey of states’ seat belt usage.
“In 2013, 348 people lost their lives on Kansas roadways and 55 percent of them were unbuckled,” said Cherie Sage, state director for Safe Kids Kansas, in a news release. “The most effective way to protect the lives of you and your passengers is to wear seat belts and use appropriate child restraints every time you ride in the vehicle – even short distances.”