New Hope-Solebury Wins Bucks County High School Seatbelt Safety Challenge

The Bucks County Transport Management Association (TMA Bucks)  announced today that New Hope-Solebury High School is the overall winner of the Ninth Annual Bucks County High School Seatbelt Safety Challenge.

New-Hope Solebury student drivers had the highest overall seatbelt use (97 percent) among 18 other Bucks County high schools that participated in the challenge.

New Hope-Solebury High School, which was also the overall winner in 2010-11, will be presented with a $500 cash grant and perpetual trophy plaque for winning the challenge. The cash prize is donated by TMA Bucks will be used by the school for safety-related purposes.

The student council, under the direction of teacher Jon Gonsiewski, promoted the seatbelt challenge throughout the school year. Journalism students of Drew Giorgi also helped promote the challenge by creating a video for the “Teen Driver Video PSA Challenge.”

“At New-Hope Solebury, we are very proud of our students practicing safe driving habits and for educating others through student made PSA’s,” said principal Stephen Seier.

Quakertown Community High School, which achieved the greatest percentage increase for the challenge, will also receive a $500 cash grant and perpetual trophy plaque. Quakertown student drivers posted a five percent increase in seatbelt usage from baseline surveys last September (87 percent in the fall to 92 percent in the spring).

In Fall 2015, baseline surveys on seatbelt usage by student drivers were conducted at high schools throughout the county without the knowledge of the student body or administration in order to ensure the most accurate data sampling. All schools were then challenged to raise seatbelt usage and participate in the Bucks County High School Seatbelt Safety Challenge.

“Congratulations to the students of New Hope-Solebury High School for stepping up to and winning the Bucks County High School Seatbelt Safety Challenge this year,” said Jana L. Tidwell, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.  “New Hope-Solebury students are certainly an example to be followed for all teen drivers when it comes to wearing seatbelts and potentially saving lives.”