Law Enforcement Liaisons partner with Kailee Mills Foundation on Buckle Up Blue campaign
LEL Devin Vyner to be the first recipient of the “Saved by the Belt” award
Seat belt usage in Texas has dropped below the national average, and law enforcement officers have the ability to influence others. The “Buckle Up Blue” campaign was created to spread seat belt safety awareness by encouraging law enforcement officers to lead by example. It also serves as a reminder of how important law enforcement officers are to the lives of others, by protecting their own lives to be there for others.
Texas leads the nation in traffic fatalities. Last year Texas lost 4,480 lives on Texas roadways, and over 1,200 were not wearing their seat belts. Sadly, it has been 21 years since Texas has had a “deathless day” on our roadways, averaging 10-11 lives lost in crashes every day. Texas law requires drivers and all passengers to wear seat belts, and law enforcement officers are not exempt. Wearing a seat belt is one of the most effective ways to keep a person safe and free of any serious injuries in the event of a crash.
In 2020, the Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed National Seat Belt Day to be observed on November 14th, annually. This year the LEL team along with the Kailee Mills Foundation will be challenging all Texas law enforcement to participate in a “Seat Belt Selfie” challenge to encourage everyone to wear their seat belt. During this challenge, law enforcement officers are encouraged to post a seat belt selfie on social media using the hashtags #buckleupblue and #kaileemillsfoundation.
LEL Devin Vyner was saved by his seatbelt when he crashed his patrol vehicle responding to a call for service. He shares his story with other law enforcement in a free course provided by the LEL Team. Devin’s courage to spread his message led him to be nominated for a “Saved by the Belt” award presented by the Kailee Mills Foundation. This award was created for officers who have been saved by the belt and share their stories to spread seat belt safety awareness. If you know of an officer deserving of this award, please submit a nomination on the Kailee Mills Foundation website.