White Co. High Aiming To Raise Seatbelt Safety Awareness

White County High School’s SADD Club is sponsoring seatbelt safety awareness and checkpoints this week.

Principal Greg Wilson said that the idea was started several years ago in partnership with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Sparta Police Department. He said that the goal is to encourage students to partake in safe driving practices.

“The big thing is you know not just our kids but all the students across the Upper Cumberland,” Wilson said. “Just knowing that seatbelts could save their lives and if we can get that message out to just one kid and help them and help their family not go through a tragic accident, that’s our goal.”

Wilson said that SADD Club students will be stationed at the school exits. He said that when students are leaving the parking lot and are wearing their seatbelts, they’ll be rewarded with candy. If the student is found not wearing a seatbelt, Wilson said they’ll be reminded of the “Click-it or Ticket” rule and encouraged to put it on.

“We hope to be able to educate them,” Wilson said. “You know by reminding them but also by telling them how important it is and how much we care about them and their safety.”