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Letter to the Editor: Funding to halt for Buckle Up Program

Editor:

For the past number of years, the Buckle Up Program has provided education and awareness in seat belt safety and proper car seat installation to individuals in Liberty, Hill, Blaine and Chouteau Counties.

As of Oct. 1, the Hill County Buckle Up Program will be coming to an end due to loss of federal funding. Eight coordinator positions have been eliminated out of 12 due to this cut. As a coalition, we believe and have voted to continue with education and awareness with members of the coalition stepping up to fill in these areas of need.

Car seat fittings will still be available by appointment only, at the Havre Fire Department, 265-6511, and Mary Owens at the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line, 265-2606, ext. 301. Car seats are still available for those in need.

Our four-hour defensive driving program, Alive @ 25, will continue for drivers under the age 25. This free program benefits young drivers to buckle up for safety and other defensive driving skills.

Currently we work with the courts in referring young drivers to this program, but it is also available to any driver under the age of 25 at no cost. Some insurances support this program and will offer a discount for participating in the course. Check with your insurance carrier.

Our Facebook page will continue with updated information about seat belt safety efforts in our area. Montana sits at 77 percent seat belt usage. In our area, Hill County is at 49 percent, with Blaine, Liberty and Choteau at substantially lower rates. With these stats, the current coalition wants to continue with the education and awareness components to the best of their ability to increase the use of seat belts usage to save lives. If you are interested in supporting this worthwhile program, contact Mary Owens, 265-2606, ext. 301, for further volunteer ideas.  To become a part of our Buckle Up Coalition, you are invited to attend our next quarterly meeting Nov. 4, 8:30 a.m., at the Boys & Girls Club, 500 1st Ave., Havre.

At this time, the coalition would like to thank all individuals, groups and businesses for their past support in getting this valuable information out to the public and to their employees.

 Your continued support will assist the coalition in continuing the work on education and awareness of the need of seat belt safety.

Thank you,

Mary Owens

for Hill County Buckle Up Coalition

 

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