We are excited to announce that before the end of August 2019, we already had all 5 spots filled for the 2019/2020 school year!  Check back to see what these students accomplish!

DRIVE SMART Weld County is excited to make their Buckle Up Drive Smart even better!   The safe driving awareness, peer-driven program that will allows teen groups/schools to earn up to $1,000.00 for their school, organization, or club.  Groups are given a $500 budget to create safe driving messaging throughout the school year.  Activities can be simple or complex and are awarded a monetary value accordingly.   A limit of five schools/groups will be accepted. One group per school. Participants will be chosen on a first come basis. Application forms are required.  For more information contact Marjorie Hanson, Public Outreach Coordinator  970.381.8237 /  drivesmartweldcounty@gmail.com
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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 2019/2020
December 6, 2020
The Greeley West group created posters and handed out safe driving messages at the basketball game.
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 19, 2019
The Ft. Lupton group created personal notes: "Be thankful for your life.  Drive Smart.  Buckle Up".
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.
November 8 & 13, 2019
Ft Lupton Student Council BUDS group held a seat belt pledge for junior and senior drivers.  Students who took the pledge received a bracelet created just for the event.  "FLHS   We Drive Smart"
October 31, 2019
Prairie FBLA BUDS group participated in a Truck or Treat in the snow, wind and cold!  They bravely distributed safe driving messaging attached to candy.
October 26, 2019
Windsor Charter BUDS group participated in the Trunk or Treat event, handing our candies with safe driving messages and distributing safe driving materials.
October 18, 2019
FBLA  BUDS team member Memphis Baker set up, planned and implemented a safety presentation to all Platte Valley 3rd graders on how to cross streets safely, move around school buses and the importance of always wearing a seat belt.

October 18, 2019
Greeley West Fashion Club held a seat belt pledge.  Students that pledged to buckle up every time put their pledges in a box for a chance to win one of 6 gift cards to a local restaurant.
October 17, 2019
Platte Valley High hosted the Think Fast program that uses a game show format to teach teens about safe driving.
October 6, 2019
Students at Ft Lupton High created signs and a display for Trick or Treat Street that included October driving statistics and a display with a skeleton.   Posters warning about the importance of safe driving were posted all along the hall and received many comments from participants. 
September 16,2019
Greeley West Buckle Up Drive Smart program students participated in a seat belt check at the school this morning and found 21% of occupants were not buckled. Buckle Up!
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
May 22, 2019
Even after the official Buckle Up Drive Smart year was completed, the Platte Valley High School FCCLA team created this sign to be hung by the water stations.  Great Job!
May 15, 2019
DRIVE SMART Weld County coalition members Sue Helfrich (Allstate Insurance) and Marjorie Hanson (DSWC Public Outreach Coordinator) awarded Memphis and Kendall with the FCCLA $700 for their work over the school year with the BUDS program.  Congratulations!
May 7, 2019
DRIVE SMART WC was pleased to award Prairie High FBLA $1,000 for their work this year to help their peers make wise choices behind the wheel. We had a wonderful time at the banquet. What a great bunch of people!

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.
March 28, 2019
The Prairie High BUDS group gave a presentation on the importance of buckling up to kindergarten through 5th grade classes and then played a game of kahoot with the high school students to make sure everyone was reminded to buckle up and make wise choices behind the wheel. Great job!
March 21, 2019
Greeley West Fashion club held a pre-prom Fashion Show where they did a skit about making wise choices behind the wheel and announcement about their work this  year partnering with DRIVE SMART Weld county.  The Greeley Tribune covered the event.
March 21, 2019
Platte Valley High FCCLA completed their final seat belt check and had seat belt safety signs that they designed installed around campus.
February 27, 2019
Fort Lupton STUCO had a table with a Buckle Up poster and treats with messaging for students and adults in attendance.
February 20, 2019
The night of the playoff basketball game, Greeley West Fashion Club handed out safety messages attached to candy to everyone who attended the game reminding everyone to drive smart.
February 7 - 14
Fort Lupton STUCO had a week long fundraiser featuring Valentine candy with Safe Driving messaging.
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.
January 23, 2019
The Greeley West Fashion BUDS group shows off the Seat Belt Safety Shirt that they designed to help spread the message to their peers the importance of buckling up!
November 16, 2018
The Greeley West Fashion club team created safe driving reminders such as: "We are thankful for your life!  DRIVE SMART!" and put one on each of the cars in the student lot.  We are thankful for all the Fashion Club's efforts to keep other students and staff safe on our roadways!
November 2, 2018
The Greeley West BUDS Fashion Club group teamed up with the cheerleaders to distribute seat belt messaging to the crowd during the game.
October 30, 2018
Fort Lupton Honor Society created a whole wall with safe driving messaging using one of our Crash Dummies for a community trick or treat event reaching over 1,000 people.  
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!
October 16, 2018
​FBBLA students at Prairie High braved the cold to complete their first seat belt check of the year.
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.
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Students from Windsor Charter Academy take an early morning seat belt check.
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.
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Students arrive at an all school assembly where teacher Joey Taylor talked about the importance of safe driving.
May 9, 2018
DRIVE SMART Weld County awarded the Greeley West AVID seniors $900 for their participation in the Buckle Up Drive Smart program. They completed a year of creative and educational activities! Thanks to our grant sponsors: Allstate Foundation, State Farm and CDOT
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!
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DRIVE SMART Weld County members Marjorie Hanson/Public Relations Specialist DSWC, Stacey Chase/Chairperson DSWC/ Banner Health Paramedics, Erin Olsen/Secretary DSWC/WCDPHE, Sara Chandler WCA Senior, Valerie Perciante/Dean of Students WCA
April 26, 2018
The Greeley West AVID group hosted DRIVE SMART Weld County to talk to the students about the dangers of driving impaired.  There was a classroom presentation followed by the opportunity for students to experience the fatal vision goggles.
April 6, 2018
​Windsor Charter students held a follow up activity to encourage everyone to buckle up by handing out candy smarties that said: "Be a smartie and Buckle up!"
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Students thought this was a "sweet" way to remind them to Buckle Up!
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.
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DSWC representative Marjorie Hanson talks to students at the crash cars about the importance of wearing seat belts.
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Senior Sara Chandler talks to fellow students about the importance of pledging to wear their seat belts.
March 21, 2018
Congratulations to Platte Valley FCCLA for earning $1,000 for their BUDS activities this school year!  They have had multiple safe driving campaigns throughout the year and held a Truck Smart event on the day of their award.
March 13, 2018
The BUDS team at Fort Lupton High School sponsored the Truck Smart program to engage students with a big rig and learn how to drive safely around them.
February 7, 2018
​The Greeley West BUDS AVID group sponsored the Truck Smart program where students got to experience a big rig and it's blind spots first hand.
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.
January 2018
Greeley West AVID group created posters and participated in an education campaign at the high school using candy.  Messages were attached to each type of candy:
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​Roll ups -  Drive safe, don't roll your car!
Smarties - Be smart, buckle up!
Cupcakes - it's a piece of cake to buckle up!



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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:

  • Make sure your vehicle is in safe running condition
  • Do not text or drive distracted, or distract others while they are driving
  • Follow all driving laws, including obeying the speed limit and stopping at all red lights/stop signs/railroad crossings
  • Wear seat belts at all times-EVERYONE  in the car.
  • Use precaution whenever you are driving
 Please do all you can to drive safely and carefully. Drive smart Fort Lupton.
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Students participate in the ThinkFast program November 30.
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
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First place winner Nova Lang
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Memphis Baker making an all school announcement.
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.
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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. 

November 7, 2017
Platte Valley High School hosted the DRIVE SMART Teen program for 87 freshman.  This interactive program is offered free of charge by DRIVE SMART Weld County.
October 6, 2017
PVHS FCCLA had a homecoming pledge drive asking students to avoid distractions, alcohol, and drugs, as well as buckle up during the homecoming weekend and beyond.
October 2017
Greeley West AVID group created posters for the hallways to increase driving safety awareness.
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October 2017 Greeley West Avid group show off their posters.
October 2017
The Greeley West Avid group had a very good article in the West Word written by Brody Clark.
 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.
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.
​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.
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.
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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.
April 14, 2017
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.  
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A WCA Student takes a seat in a wheelchair while survivor Luis Cerenil talks about the results of his distracted driving crash.
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.
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!
December 9. 2016
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.
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