An award started several years ago has a continued tradition in Pickaway County. The “Saved By the Belt Award” is an award that goes to an individual who made the choice to simply buckle up, and was the reason for their survival in a motor vehicle crash. These awards have been a part of the “Click It or Ticket” enforcement period for the last several years in Pickaway County, and this year is no exception. Teays Valley High School senior Cody Redman received the award during the school’s annual awards ceremony. Redman was involved in a motor vehicle crash on March 30, 2014, where his vehicle was totaled after rolling several times. Mr. Redman escaped injury due in part to his actions of simply wearing a seat belt. The purpose of the award is to present living proof that seat belts do save lives.
Redman and fellow senior Justin Donaldson also received the “Award of Merit” from Sheriff Robert Radcliff for their service to the traffic safety industry by creating a video asking students to not drive distracted. The video won the AAA Ohio Outstanding Public Service Announcement award this past March. Redman was also instrumental in the kick off for Motorcycle Awareness Month in Pickaway County. Finally, Sheriff Robert Radcliff also honored Tina Bobek. Bobek, the nurse at Teays Valley High School as well as a Safe Communities Coalition member and Teen Institute Advisor, has been a driving force for the promotion of teen traffic safety.
“It is always an honor and a privilege to work with students in the promotion of traffic safety”, stated Safe Communities Director Teresa C. Carper. “Students promoting the safety message to their peers is the best was to get the message out, and hopefully save lives.”
Traffic related deaths are the number one killer of teens in the United States. The lack of seat belt use has also played a role in a large number of highway deaths, especially here in Pickaway County. Through the promotion of “Click It or Ticket”, and recognizing those who have been “Saved By the Belt”, Safe Communities of Pickaway County asks that other take four seconds and improve their chance of survival in a crash by 50%.
With the Memorial Day Holiday upon us, and the summer season just ahead, it is important to remember to “Buckle Up Every Trip Every Time”. For more information on seat belt statistics and other traffic safety related issues, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at www.nhtsa.gov .
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