The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is now taking entries for its annual “Be Ready. Be Buckled.” student art contest organized by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Belt Partnership.

Open to students in kindergarten through sixth grade with relatives or sponsors in the commercial truck and bus industries, the contest educates kids about highway safety and urges commercial drivers to buckle up on every trip.
 
“Safety belts save lives, and this contest is a great way to engage our kids in a conversation about the importance of buckling up before every trip,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “The calendars also serve as a year-round reminder about traveling safely on our roadways.”
 
In 2012 (the most recent year available), 697 occupants of large trucks were killed in crashes. Approximately 40% were not wearing safety belts, says FMCSA.
 
“Every year, thousands of lives are lost and injuries incurred in motor vehicle crashes because drivers and passengers fail to buckle-up,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro. “We can save lives by encouraging safety belt use 100% of the time, and this contest sets a positive safety example for the next generation.”
 
FMCSA will accept contest submissions through Feb. 28, 2014. Students can submit their artwork by mail to the following address:

CMV Safety Belt Partnership
c/o CVSA
Attention: Lisa Claydon
6303 Ivy Lane, Suite 310
Greenbelt, MD 20770

Artwork will be evaluated in two categories: one for kindergarten through second grade, and another for third through sixth grade. Twelve winners will be selected in March 2014 and their artwork will appear in the 2015 "Be Ready. Be Buckled.” contest calendar.  
 
All 12 students will also be honored at a ceremony at USDOT headquarters to be held in the spring.

The CMV Safety Belt Partnership is a collaboration among the FMCSA, other government agencies, and commercial vehicle and safety organizations designed to encourage safety belt use by commercial motor vehicle drivers.
 
To learn more about the "Be Ready. Be Buckled." contest, visit: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/safety-belt/index.htm