Seat belt use increased at Rutherford County schools after Sheriff’s School Resource Officers conducted a seat belt check and safety awareness program in April, said SRO Capt. Brad Harrison.
“The SROs are interested in keeping the students safe on and off their campuses,” Harrison said. “That is why we used this time to educate and to bring recognition and understanding of these safety issues to the students and citizens.”
SROs monitored 21,243 vehicles at all 47 schools during the first week in April. Of those vehicles, 1,900 occupants or 8.9 percent were not wearing their seatbelts.
After the initial seatbelt check, School Resource Officers at their assigned schools, students and faculty hosted seat belt safety awareness programs, made public service announcements and offered awards for students who promised to always buckle up.
The awareness program involved signs placed on school campuses and education of student drivers.
SROs conducted the second seat belt check the last week in April. SROs counted 21,284 vehicles at 47 schools. Of those vehicles, 691 occupants or 3.2 percent were observed not wearing their seatbelts. This reflected a 5.7 percent reduction in unbuckled occupants on school grounds.
Along with the seat belt campaign, the School Resource Officers emphasized a new driving law that involves use of cell phones by persons under 18 and the use of cell phones in an active school zone.
Tennessee law states it is against the law for a person to knowingly operate a motor vehicle in any marked school zone when a warning flasher or flashers are in operation and talk on a hand-held mobile telephone while the vehicle is in motion.
It is a delinquent act for a person under age 18 to knowingly drive a motor vehicle on any road or highway and talk on a mobile telephone equipped with a hands-free device while the vehicle is in motion.
A convicted driver may be punished with a fine up to $50.
Video: SRO Andrew Farley of Oakland Middle School created this video to spread the message of wearing seat belts.
