When the Florida Highway Patrol is asked to demonstrate the importance of seat belt use, they have some convincing tools that help get the point across. Troops B & G recently utilized these tools when a Florida university and an elementary school asked them to participate in their Safety Day events. The FHP and FHP Auxiliary were happy to comply.

Kristen Peeler, daughter of FHP Auxiliary Major Jeff Peeler in Troop D, Kissimmee, contacted Lt. Mike Burroughs, Troop B Public Information Officer, about using the seat belt convincer at the University of Florida's Health and Safety Day, held just before a home football game at the University’s Reitz Union.

Kristen Peeler watches as one of her friends prepares
to take a ride on the FHP seat belt convincer.

Auxiliary member Chuck Brabham (Troop B) volunteered to assist at the event and operate the convincer. Over 30 UF students were brave enough to take a ride on the popular machine, which is designed to remind them to always wear their seat belts. As usual, the seat belt convincer drew a large crowd of spectators – all anxious to see the riders hit the end of the ramp with a sudden stop as the seat belt engaged to keep them from being ejected off the sled. Over 500 students visited the UF School of Pharmacology Health and Safety Day at the Reitz Union.

Troops B & G joined forces to assist with the Baldwin Police Department's School Safety Day in Baldwin, Florida. Auxiliary Trooper Albert Twist brought one of FHP's rollover simulators to the event to teach children the importance of wearing seat belts. He told students a story about seat belts to encourage children to buckle up and to remind their parents to wear their seat belts too, reinforcing his point by demonstrating the rollover simulator. The students were impressed when they saw the unrestrained rollover dummies fly out with the visual effects provided by the Rollover Simulator.

Trooper Sandy Ezell (Troop G) conducts child safety seat
demonstrations for a group of students.

Trooper Sandy Ezell also participated in the event by demonstrating the proper use of a booster seat for younger children and parents in the audience. Through the use of a stuffed animal, she demonstrated the proper adjustment of the lap and shoulder belt when using the harness in a combination booster seat. She also explained the importance of using booster seats for children until age 8 and 4'9" tall, and for children 12 and under to ride in the back seat where it is safer.

The FHP Seat Belt Convincer and the Rollover Simulator were great reminders to Buckle Up and Live!Thanks to all the agencies that participated in the School Safety Days and helped make the events a huge success!