For the second year in a row, Ocean Lakes participates in the Get it Together Seat Belt Challenge, a regional competition led by Drive Safe Hampton Roads.
“Our overall goal is [to get] 100% of students wearing seat belts,” driver’s education teacher Michael Pollock said. “We want to make sure that everyone is safe coming in and out of the building, and even out on their own.”
A key part of the challenge involves random seat belt checks done in the student parking lot in order to increase seat belt usage among student drivers.
The random checks ensure an accurate measure of how many drivers and passengers have buckled up. The data collected is sent to the challenge coordinators, who track the seat belt compliance rates across the 21 schools involved throughout Hampton Roads.
“Seat belts are important because [they] keep you safe, as well as other people safe,” junior and challenge volunteer Sam Patterson said. “As new drivers, we are prone to more accidents, but I know I can rely on my seat belt.”
Assistant principal James Imbriale, who has led the challenge for the past two years, helped expand the efforts to promote seat belt safety.
“We have put flyers on cars, set up a bulletin board in the cafeteria, spread awareness on the morning announcements and sent out text messages making parents aware of this challenge,” Imbriale said. “As you put the seat belt on, you start the day with safety in mind.”
On Jan. 7, 2025, attorney Paul Hernandez spoke to over 150 driver education students about the dangers of distracted driving and the critical role seat belts play in protecting lives. School resource officer Cameron Kolmer shared his insights as well.
“I have seen multiple crashes where people should have died, but they did not because of their seat belt,” Kolmer said. “Do not speed and do not be on your phone. Wear your seatbelt and be smart. You can only control your actions, not other people’s.”
A seat belt can reduce the risk of fatal and critical injury in a crash by over 50%, making it one of the most cost-effective public health inventions ever, according to the American Automobile Association.
“Make it a habit to wear it,” Pollock said. “Those who do not may end up regretting it later.”