The annual Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Belt Partnership "Be Ready. Be Buckled." art contest for children is now in its fourth year, and the deadline for submission to the 2011 contest is February 28.

Any child from kindergarten age up to 6th grade (ages 5-12), who has a relative working in trucking or busing, is eligible.

The contest is held in conjunction with the American Society of Safety Engineers' North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (May 1-7, 2011) celebrations aimed at increasing awareness about work safety -- being safe on the job. The "Be Ready, Be Buckled" art contest focuses on urging truck, bus and all drivers to buckle up to save lives and reduce injuries. This year's theme focuses on the motto "Safety Belts Save Lives!"

We all know that kids can be a huge influence upon adults. By expressing in artwork the importance of a basic safety practice -- buckling up -- the Commercial Vehicle Safety Belt Partnership hopes raise safety belt usage among CMV operators and reduce crash fatalities and serious injuries.

Artwork that best illustrates "the importance of commercial motor vehicle drivers buckling up" with the overarching message "Safety Belts Save Lives" will win the grand prizes in each of the two age categories.

The winners of this contest will be honored at the 9th annual ASSE kids' "Safety-on-the-Job" poster contest awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on May 2, 2011, as part of the North American Occupational Safety and Health Week kick-off events.

For more information, contest rules, and the entry form, visit: FMCSA/seat-belt