DRIVE SMART Weld County is excited about Buckle Up Drive Smart program's 8th year! The safe driving awareness, peer-driven program allows teen groups/schools the opportunity to earn up to $1,000.00 for their organization or club. Activities that remind peers to make wise choices behind the wheel can be simple or complex and are awarded a monetary value accordingly. Each school is given a budget to use for activity supplies. Look below for some of the activities students implemented! During the 2022/2023 school year our 7 groups of teens reached 30,109 peers and community members! For more information about contact Kristen Duus, Public Outreach Coordinator 970.551.6148 [email protected]
Our 2024/2025 teams are:
Briggsdale School Class of 2026
Dayspring Christian Academy Freshman Class
Frontier Academy Interact Club
Northridge Student Government
Wiggins FBLA
See below for activities from participating schools!
Our 2024/2025 teams are:
Briggsdale School Class of 2026
Dayspring Christian Academy Freshman Class
Frontier Academy Interact Club
Northridge Student Government
Wiggins FBLA
See below for activities from participating schools!
buckle_up_drive_smart_application_live.pdf | |
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buckle_up_drive_smart_rules_and_regulations_2024-2025.docx | |
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File Type: | docx |
Challenge Activity Ideas | |
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Remember, DRIVE SMART Weld County is available with resources! See resource page. http://www.drivesmartweldcounty.org/resources.html
Buckle Up Drive Smart School Activities 2024/2025
October 2024
Frontier Academy hosted the first Trunk-or-Treat of the year with our pals Vince and Larry!
Briggsdale Class of 2026 BUDS members handed out “swag” bags to 6th-12th grade students. Bags included Halloween
candy, Graduated Driver’s License Information card, and Drive Smart flashlights/keychains!
candy, Graduated Driver’s License Information card, and Drive Smart flashlights/keychains!
September 2024
Dayspring Christian Academy 10th Grade class conducted seatbelt checks on a cool September morning!
Frontier Academy's Interactive Club started the BUDS program out strong with their seatbelt checks done during Homecoming Week.
Welcome back!
Welcome back!
Buckle Up Drive Smart School Activities 2023/2024
March 2024
Dayspring Christian Academy finished out their BUDS year by conducting a seatbelt check. While there were a number of cars that had no seatbelts or distracted drivers, the overwhelming majority of drivers wore their belts!
Mark Oliva, a truck driver with Walmart, spoke with students from Platte Valley High School at the Kersey Fire Department about safe driving around semi trucks.
Wiggins High School students enjoy the nice weather while conducting a seatbelt check after school. The students found:
Wearing seatbelts-----------------------------------83
Not wearing seatbelts------------------------------34
Distracted----------------------------------------------0
Tinted windows/unable to see------------------45
Great job on not driving distracted, but we need more seatbelts!
Wearing seatbelts-----------------------------------83
Not wearing seatbelts------------------------------34
Distracted----------------------------------------------0
Tinted windows/unable to see------------------45
Great job on not driving distracted, but we need more seatbelts!
December 2023
Dayspring Christian Academy hung posters on lockers to remind their students about safe driving hapbits.
Dayspring Christian Academy hung posters on lockers to remind their students about safe driving hapbits.
November 2023
Fort Lupton reminds everyone to not be a turkey, and to Drive Smart!
Fort Lupton reminds everyone to not be a turkey, and to Drive Smart!
Buckle Up Drive Smart School Activities 2022/2023
December 21 - January 31
The BUDS Interact Club from Frontier High School created DRIVE SMART posters and partnered with local businesses, (Out of the Blue, Café Mexicali, Margie's Café, Dana Orthodontics, and Frontier Academy) to bring awareness to safe driving in the winter and other general safe driving tips. |
September 30
In the morning Greeley West Fashion Club students set up a table in the commons area encouraging students to stop by and answer a question. The question was: “Did you wear your seat belt today?”. If the answer was “Yes.” They received smarties and if it was “No.” they received a dum dum. |
Buckle Up Drive Smart School Activities 2021/2022
September 30
Briggsdale High created a seat belt survey and had students and staff complete it. They will be focusing on seat belt safety this year. |
When riding or driving in a vehicle, I
*Always wear my seat belt *Usually wear my seat belt *Sometimes wear a seat belt *Never wear a seat belt The results were as follows: Always wear a seat belt 35% Usually wear a seat belt 38% Sometimes wear a seat belt 17% Never wear a seat belt 10% |
Buckle Up Drive Smart School Activities 2020/2021
Congratulations to our student groups for pressing on during all the COVID 19 restrictions and remote learning. It's amazing how creative our groups can be! We are proud of them! Despite the many challenges the year held, the students did an amazing job reaching 16,436 of their peers with the message to make wise choices behind the wheel. They each earned money for their school organization. We are excited about the 2021/2022 year ahead!
- Briggsdale Sophomore Class - $550
- Fort Lupton Student Council - $800
- Greeley West AVID - $950
- Highland Student Council - $1,000
- Windsor Charter National Honor Society - $250
Buckle Up Drive Smart School Activities 2019/2020
Congratulations to our BUDS schools! Due to Covid 19 we weren't able to celebrate in person but that didn't stop them from getting their well earned reward!
Fort Lupton High School Student Government earned $1,000.
Greeley West High School Fashion Club earned $1,000.
Platte Valley High School FCCLA earned $700.
Prairie High School FBLA earned $1,000.
Windsor Charter Academy National Honor Society earned $150.
February 13, 2020
Platte Valley FCCLA did a Buckle of Love activity. BUDS members went to all the advising groups and asked students if they always wore their seat belts. If they did they got a sucker with a reminder sign. They reminded all students of the importance of buckling up. 241 - yes and 31 no. |
February 12, 2020
The Ft Lupton Student Government reached their goal and were awarded $1,000 for their efforts to keep their peers safe behind the wheel! They have and are going, above and beyond with an assembly featuring two staff members sharing their personal experiences with car crashes and have a big rig event planned for next month. What a great team! |
January 28, 2020
The Ft. Lupton Student Government group created posters with driving statistics they have collected at their school. Those posters then became Kahoot questions played by all Advisory classes. That same day BUDS members placed signs on cars. They have gotten a lot of positive feedback so will continue every month. Great job! |
December 4, 2019
The Greeley West group put up a Christmas tree in the library. They created colorful paper ornaments and students were encouraged to write a safe driving message and hang it on the tree. Approximately 200 students a day use the library and are exposed to this activity. Happy, Safe, Holidays from Greeley West Fashion Club! |
November 12, 2019
Ft. Lupton BUDS group went to the advisory class where they held a quiz about safe driving. When completed, they gave a presentation on safe driving followed by a post quiz to see how much students learned. Students brainstormed to create a safe driving acronym using FLHS as the letters. |
Buckle Up Drive Smart School Activities 2018/2019
Congratulations to the five groups that participated in our 2018/2019 program!
Fort Lupton Student Council - Earned $1,000
Greeley West Fashion Club - Earned $1,000
Platte Valley FCCLA - Earned $700.00
Prairie FBLA - Earned $1,000
Windsor Charter Academy National Honor Society - Earned $150
Fort Lupton Student Council - Earned $1,000
Greeley West Fashion Club - Earned $1,000
Platte Valley FCCLA - Earned $700.00
Prairie FBLA - Earned $1,000
Windsor Charter Academy National Honor Society - Earned $150
April 19, 2019 DRIVE SMART coalition members Marjorie Hanson (DSWC), Stacey Chase (Banner Health Paramedics), and Tamara Pachl (State Farm) presented Greeley West Fashion Club $1,000.00 for their efforts to bring traffic safety awareness to their peers through our BUDS program. Congratulations on a job well done! |
April 18, 2019
DRIVE SMART coalition members Marjorie Hanson (DSWC Outreach) and Sara Kos (Colorado Motor Carriers Association) awarded Fort Lupton High school's student council $1,000 for their participation in our Buckle Up Drive Smart program this school year! They did an awesome job of spreading the message of making wise choices behind the wheel to their peers. |
February 14, 2019
For Valentine’s Day, the Platte Valley BUDS group went to all advising rooms and took a poll of who wore their seat belts every time they drive or ride. They presented all students who answered "Yes" with a Life Saver sucker. They handed out close to 200 suckers, which is well more than half of the student body. They also reminded each class about the importance of buckling up. |
February 6, 2019
Prairie FBLA BUDS group held a workshop for members of District three FBLA to attend and work on. They gave a presentation on safe driving habits. Participants used their knowledge on the benefits of safe driving from the presentation in an academic competition. Finally, they had the opportunity to see the effects of drunk driving using the fatal vision goggles. |
October 27, 2018
Windsor Charter Academy participated in a Trunk or Treat event. It was a great turn out of both WCA families and the public. Students were allowed to pick a question (easy, medium or hard) and answer those questions for a piece of candy. All questions were geared to Safe Driving, including putting on your seatbelt, distracted driving, etc. |
October 24, 2018
The Greeley West BUDS group created this power point that was played in all homeroom classes reaching approximately 1,700 students! |
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September 26, 2018
The schools are busy completing their first school seat belt checks. This photo was taken at Windsor Charter Academy where the National Honor Society has taken on the challenge. Checks will be made three times during the school year. |
Buckle Up Drive Smart School Activities 2017/2018
May 21, 2018
DRIVE SMART Weld County representatives Marjorie Hanson/DSWC, Stacey Chase/Banner Paramedics and DSWC Chairperson, Sara Kos/Colorado Motor Carriers, and Erin Olsen/WCDPHE present Fort Lupton High school assistant principal Jeff Hoff with a check for $950 for the work he and Kazin did over the school year as participants in the BUCKLE UP DRIVE SMART program. Congratualtions! |
May Prom Week
Fort Lupton High did many activities prior and during prom to remind students to drive safely on this night and every other time they get behind the wheel. *One of their teachers, Joey Taylor, spoke to students about driving safety. He was in a crash when he was 19 due to careless driving that put him into a coma for three months. He will shared his experience, and encouraged safe driving. *Announcements were made daily on each topic listed: Monday-driving while tired (After all, prom doesn't end until 3:30AM), Tuesday-distracted driving, Wednesday-safe driving tips when driving in a big city (the students will be driving to the Denver Aquarium for prom), Thursday and Friday-not driving under the influence or with someone under the influence. *Multiple fliers encouraging safe driving were posted throughout the school. *Students received incentives for making plans to ride a provided bus or get drivers. |
May 8, 2018
DRIVE SMART Weld County awarded Windsor Charter Academy Honor Society $600 for their involvement in the 2217/2018 Buckle Up Drive Smart program. Student leader Sara Chandler headed up several activities encouraging her peers to make wise choices behind the wheel. Congratulations! |
April 3. 2018
Windsor Charter Academy hosted a safe driving event for freshman that included a Law Enforcement speaker, Trauma speaker, rotations through a seat belt pledge station and crash cars. |
January 31, 2018
Professional Driver Scott Murray spoke to the Greeley West AVID group about safe driving around big rigs in preparation for their Truck Smart event February 7 sponsored by DRIVE SMART WC and Colorado Motor Carriers Association. A big rig provided by Walmart will park at the school and provide the opportunity for students to climb in and experience the No Zones and get a feel for just how big a big rig is! Education will be provided about No Zones, stopping distances, and turning radius. Students will be writing an article in the WestWord and having daily all school announcements about how to drive safe around a big rig. |
December 2017
This is the kind of Christmas tree DSWC likes! Platte Valley High School students participating in our Buckle Up Drive Smart campaign held an educational campaign and pledge drive against distracted driving. Students who pledged to not drive distracted "decorated" the tree with their red-inked fingerprints!🎄 |
November 27 - December 1, 2017
Fort Lupton High School sponsored a Drive Safe Week which included designing a safe driving poster, a week of all school safe driving announcements, and hosting the ThinkFast program. Today's announcement for December 1: Driving accidents can happen at any time. Accidents are the leading cause of death in teenagers. Many of you have been impacted by the effect of car accident deaths-possibly losing a friend or family member. Although not all accidents can be prevented, here are a few things that can help reduce your chances of being in a car accident or injured in a car accident:
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November 17, 2017
Platte Valley FCCLA held a safe driving poster contest for the freshman class. In The contest included school announcements and prizes for the winners from AVID. 1st place – Nova Lang 2nd place – Lily Helzer and Nancy Armstrong, 3rd place – Amaya Salazar and Jill Adkins |
November 14 - 20, 2017
The Greeley West AVID group had all school announcements to encourage students to drive safely using some of the information they researched.
Tuesday 11/14
Traffic fatalities have risen by 24 percent since 2014.
Colorado is growing, but that doesn't mean traffic fatalities must grow too.
Wednesday 11/15
There were 17,854 seatbelt violations in 2017 in the state of Colorado.
Be safe, buckle up.
Thursday 11/16
There have been 507 traffic fatalities on Colorado Highways so far in 2017
Make sure you are driving distraction free. In case someone else isn’t.
Friday 11/17
In Colorado you are 13 percent more likely to die from a car crash if your dog is in the car.
Keep your pets home or secured in the car.
Monday 11/20
There are 26,000 reports of drunk driving in Colorado every year.
Be Smart, don’ drive drunk.
Tuesday 11/21
Last year 605 people died on Colorado roadways. Most were suspected of being caused by alcohol l and drugs.
Don’t be stupid. Be sober.
The Greeley West AVID group had all school announcements to encourage students to drive safely using some of the information they researched.
Tuesday 11/14
Traffic fatalities have risen by 24 percent since 2014.
Colorado is growing, but that doesn't mean traffic fatalities must grow too.
Wednesday 11/15
There were 17,854 seatbelt violations in 2017 in the state of Colorado.
Be safe, buckle up.
Thursday 11/16
There have been 507 traffic fatalities on Colorado Highways so far in 2017
Make sure you are driving distraction free. In case someone else isn’t.
Friday 11/17
In Colorado you are 13 percent more likely to die from a car crash if your dog is in the car.
Keep your pets home or secured in the car.
Monday 11/20
There are 26,000 reports of drunk driving in Colorado every year.
Be Smart, don’ drive drunk.
Tuesday 11/21
Last year 605 people died on Colorado roadways. Most were suspected of being caused by alcohol l and drugs.
Don’t be stupid. Be sober.
October 2017
Greeley West AVID group created posters for the hallways to increase driving safety awareness.
Greeley West AVID group created posters for the hallways to increase driving safety awareness.
Buckle Up Drive Smart School Activities 2016/17
We are excited to announce the award winners of our Buckle Up Drive Smart campaign for the 2016/17 school year!
May 19. 2017
Congratulations to Sara Chandler and Windsor Charter Academy! Sara's Buckle Up Drive Smart projects earned the school $500! Sara organized a Safe Driving event this spring and organized her peers to participate and create a video.
Congratulations to Sara Chandler and Windsor Charter Academy! Sara's Buckle Up Drive Smart projects earned the school $500! Sara organized a Safe Driving event this spring and organized her peers to participate and create a video.
May 15, 2017
Platte Valley FCCLA was awarded $550 for their Buckle Up Drive Smart activities over the year! This is the second year PVHS has participated. They submitted a winning video and had a very creative pre-prom safety campaign along with several other activities over the school year. Sponsoring teacher Janet Niederkorn posed with students and DRIVE SMART Weld County representative Marjorie Hanson at the celebration party.
Platte Valley FCCLA was awarded $550 for their Buckle Up Drive Smart activities over the year! This is the second year PVHS has participated. They submitted a winning video and had a very creative pre-prom safety campaign along with several other activities over the school year. Sponsoring teacher Janet Niederkorn posed with students and DRIVE SMART Weld County representative Marjorie Hanson at the celebration party.
May 4, 2017
Prairie High School FBLA was awarded $600 for their Buckle Up Drive Smart activities over the 2016/2017 school year which included presenting driving safety issues to every grade! Sponsoring teacher Kyle Coles posed with students at their celebration pizza party.
Prairie High School FBLA was awarded $600 for their Buckle Up Drive Smart activities over the 2016/2017 school year which included presenting driving safety issues to every grade! Sponsoring teacher Kyle Coles posed with students at their celebration pizza party.
April 26 2017
Platte Valley High School FCCLA organized a pre-prom safe driving campaign. Every student driving to prom is invited to sign the pledge below. Yellow ribbons will be tied on each antenna in the parking lot along with an all school announcement reminding students about the pledge.
Platte Valley High School FCCLA organized a pre-prom safe driving campaign. Every student driving to prom is invited to sign the pledge below. Yellow ribbons will be tied on each antenna in the parking lot along with an all school announcement reminding students about the pledge.
April FBLA Week
Prairie High school FBLA students divided into pairs and each presented to a class room k-12. Members created a slide show based on the grade level. Younger grades were taught about car seats and distractions while older groups were informed on distractions and texting. Both groups were taught the importance of buckling up.
After the presentation, grades 8 - 12 were invited to pledge not to text and drive.
Prairie High school FBLA students divided into pairs and each presented to a class room k-12. Members created a slide show based on the grade level. Younger grades were taught about car seats and distractions while older groups were informed on distractions and texting. Both groups were taught the importance of buckling up.
After the presentation, grades 8 - 12 were invited to pledge not to text and drive.
April 14, 2017
Windsor Charter Academy Safe Driving video submission created by students.
Windsor Charter Academy Safe Driving video submission created by students.
April 13. 2017
Windsor Charter Academy hosted a Drive Safe event as part of their BUDS activities. Planned by Sara Chandler, the sponsoring student, there were survivor speakers, crash cars, distraction games, fatal vision goggles and distracted driving pledges. Thanks to our partners, Superior Towing, Anshor Driving School, Weld County Health Department, Allstate, State Farm, CDOT, and survivors Luis and Brady for making this a success.
Windsor Charter Academy hosted a Drive Safe event as part of their BUDS activities. Planned by Sara Chandler, the sponsoring student, there were survivor speakers, crash cars, distraction games, fatal vision goggles and distracted driving pledges. Thanks to our partners, Superior Towing, Anshor Driving School, Weld County Health Department, Allstate, State Farm, CDOT, and survivors Luis and Brady for making this a success.
April 5 - 7. 2017
Two DSWC crash cars are being used for pre-prom safety awareness. BUDS participant Madisyn, will be having the driver of one of the vehicles speak at the school.
Two DSWC crash cars are being used for pre-prom safety awareness. BUDS participant Madisyn, will be having the driver of one of the vehicles speak at the school.
February 15. 2017 Platte Valley High School FCCLA from Kersey, CO created this mannequin challenge video as their 2016/2017 Buckle Up Drive Smart Video Challenge.
December 21, 2016
DRIVE SMART Weld County with the help of coalition member Steve Duus (recently retired Greeley PD), taught three safe driving Classes at Windsor Charter Academy's Safety Day. We were happy to be a part of such a great event!
DRIVE SMART Weld County with the help of coalition member Steve Duus (recently retired Greeley PD), taught three safe driving Classes at Windsor Charter Academy's Safety Day. We were happy to be a part of such a great event!
December 9. 2016
University High students braved the cold to complete their seat belt observation!
University High students braved the cold to complete their seat belt observation!
December 2, 2016
Windsor Charter students conduct their Buckle Up Drive Smart seat belt observation.
Windsor Charter students conduct their Buckle Up Drive Smart seat belt observation.