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Thousands of vehicles will be on Kansas highways this Labor Day weekend as families head out for the holiday. Safe Kids Kansas, sponsored by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, State Farm Insurance, and the Kansas Department of Transportation, is reminding drivers to buckle up and keep their loved ones safe.

From August 25 through September 7, the “Bucks for Buckles” campaign will take place in 41 Kansas cities. Volunteers will hand out $1 bills to drivers whose passengers are all properly restrained. If anyone is unbuckled, drivers will receive information about the lifesaving importance of seat belts and child safety seats.

According to the 2023 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey, 85 percent of Kansans wore seat belts, compared to the 90 percent national average. Usage in Kansas dropped nearly 2 percent from 2022 to 2023. Seat belts save more than 15,000 lives each year and are the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers.

For more information on seat belt and child safety seat use, visit SafeKidsKansas.org or call 785-296-1223.