Fatal traffic accidents in the United States reached an astounding 34,600 in 2011, with 52% of those deaths recorded as not wearing a seatbelt.  Excessive speed remains the the greatest cause for fatal traffic crashes, but distracted driving, including texting, talking on a cell phone, and fatigue, are quickly catching up.  The Safety Council offers programs that are meant to educate and promote traffic safety, including improvement of driving skills, making better choices behind the wheel, proper use of seat belts and child safety seats, and bicycle helmet use.

Defensive Driving Course

The Safety Council offers the National Safety Council's 8-hour Defensive Driving Course.  This class teaches drivers how to identify potential driving hazards in the attempt to decrease the risk of being involved in or causing a traffic crash.  This course may be utilized by some insurance companies as a means to reduce insurance premiums for their clients.  Individuals interested in taking the course for this purpose should consult with their insurance agency to see if they qualify. 

Click here for the Current Schedule of Classes.

Click here to register on-line.

Alive @ 25

The Alive at 25, 4-hour program is geared towards the younger driver between the ages of 16-25 challenging them in their attitude and decision making while stressing personal responsibility.

Click here for the Current Schedule of Classes.

Click here to register on-line.

Child Safety Seat Checks/Education

According to Missouri Revised Statute 307.179, travelers with children ages 0 to 16 are required to ensure the following:

          Children less than four years of age, regardless of weight, shall be secured in a

          child passenger restraint system appropriate for that child;

          Children weighing less than forty pounds, regardless of age, shall be secured in a

          child passenger restraint system appropriate for that child;

          Children at least four years of age but less than eight years of age, who also

          weigh at least forty pounds but less than eighty pounds, and who are also less

          than four feet, nine inches tall, shall be secured in a child passenger restraint

          system or booster seat appropriate for that child;

          Children at least eighty pounds or children more than four feet, nine inches in

          height shall be secured by a vehicle safety belt or booster seat appropriate for

          that child;

          A child who otherwise would be required to be secured in a booster seat may be

          transported in the back seat of a motor vehicle while wearing only a lap belt if

          the back seat of the motor vehicle is not equipped with a combination lap and

          shoulder belt for booster seat installation.

• Children under the age of four are properly secured in a five point harness safety seat that is appropriate for their height and weightChildren over four are properly restrained in a booster seat that is appropriate for their height and weight until the child reaches a weight greater than 80lbs, height greater than 4'9', or reaches the age of eighthildren and teens between the ages of eight and 16 are required by law to wear a seatbel

Janice Carter, Sue Lober and Sheldon Lyon serve as the St. Joseph Safety and Health Council's Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, and provide inspections and installation assistance to parents, grandparents and guardians on how to properly install child safety seats.  Appointments are required and can be made by contacting the Council at (816) 233-3330 or email Janice Carter or Sue Lober.

Seat Belt Safety Information

The Safety Council takes the safety of our traveling community very seriously, and encourages the proper use of a seat belt every time you get in your vehicle.  Upon request, Safety Council staff may provide information on state laws applicable to safety belt use, as well as other pertinent traffic safety information. 

Currently, the state of Missouri has only a secondary seat belt law, meaning that a motorist may not be stopped by a law enforcement officer simply for not wearing a seat belt.  If a motorist is stopped for any other lawful reason and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, a citation may be issued.  Currently the statewide fine for not wearing a seatbelt is $10.

The St. Joseph Safety and Health Council supports the passage of a Primary Seat Belt Law which would grant law enforcement officers the power to stop and issue drivers a seat belt citation simply for not wearing their seatbelt.

Buckle Bear Program

The Buckle Bear program is available through the St. Joseph Safety and Health Council, and may be loaned to pre-schools and daycare facilities throughout the community.  The curriculum consists of various activities for children to encourage the use of seat belts and child safety seats.  For more information contact the office at (816) 233-3330 or email sjsc@stjoesafetycouncil.org.

Docu-Dramas

The St. Joseph Safety and Health Council partners with various agencies each spring to offer docu-dramas, or alcohol-related crash simulations to several school districts in northwest Missouri.  The program's intent is to provide education and awareness to students on the importance of not drinking and driving, as well as using their seat belts every time they get in a vehicle. 

Using volunteers from the high schools, the partners work together to create a crash simulation that is viewed by the students, and then afterwards, local community leaders including law enforcement and emergency service professionals provide verbal reinforcement of the lesson, and show a short video produced by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. 

Partners for the annual docu-dramas include:

          Andrew Co. Ambulance District

          Andrew Co. Sheriff’s Office

          Buchanan Co. Commission

          Buchanan Co. Sheriff’s Office

          Community Drug Council

          Heartland Disaster Services

          Heartland Health Paramedics

          Heartland Health Medical Center

          LifeNet

          Mid-Buchanan School District

          Missouri State Highway Patrol

          R&W Towing

          Savannah Fire Department

          Savannah School District

          Savannah Police Department

          South Central Buchanan Co. Fire District

          St. Joseph Fire Department

          St. Joseph Police Department

          St. Joseph Safety Council

          St. Joseph School District

          St. Joseph Youth Alliance

          University Missouri Extension

Bicycle & Helmet Safety Education

Upon request, the staff from the St. Joseph Safety and Health Council will help with the coordination and implementation of bicycle rodeos, rallies, inspections demonstrations, helmet fittings or any other type of event that will encourage the proper use of bicycle helmets and bicycling safety.  The Council has several useful resources that may be provided to the public at no cost. 

When funding allows, the Safety Council provides low-cost bicycle helmets to children.  Please call the Safety Council at (816) 233-3330 or email sjsc@stjoesafetycouncil.org to check availability.