The De Soto High School LITE Team is raising awareness for seat belt enforcement.

Throughout the month of Jan, members of LITE Team will be standing outside in the parking lot counting the number of people wearing seatbelts to collect statistics on the safety of students at DHS.

“ We felt there was a need at De Soto to raise awareness about safe driving habits, especially since we have so many students who drive themselves or others to school,” said LITE Team sponsor Lindsey O’Neil.

Besides counting seatbelts in the parking lot, LITE Team has given students the opportunity to pledge to wear their seatbelts during lunch, as well as place signs around the school as a friendly reminder to buckle up before taking off.

As important as it is to wear a seatbelt while operating a vehicle, it is also very important to wear one while riding in a vehicle.

Statistics have shown that wearing seatbelts greatly reduces the risk of injury or death in both drivers and passengers in the vehicle.

“Seatbelts save lives, and personally makes me feel safer when riding in the car,” sophomore Erin Pickert said.

If students want to help make a difference in the community, and keep students here at DHS safe, contact Mrs. O’Neil at [email protected] to join LITE team.