Kokomo hosts 99th Relays

Also, Karickhoff welcomes student page; Click It or Ticket begins May 15

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Kokomo High School hosted the 99th annual Kokomo Relays Saturday, April 29, at Walter Cross Field. With 12 schools represented and over 400 male and female athletes competing in various races and field events. The meet is a grand tradition in Central Indiana track and field.

Beginning in 1925, the Kokomo Relays have been “the oldest continuous relays in the United States.” The event was first organized by former Track and Field Director Chet Hill and expanded by KHS Coaches Frank “Bud” Overton and Walter Cross, whom the Kokomo field was named after in 1986.

Hill and Cross were both Indiana Track Hall of Fame inductees and Overton, who as athletic director helped organize the event, himself was also a participant in The Relays as a Kokomo High School student (1926-1927).

Karickhoff welcomes local student page to Statehouse

State Rep. Mike Karickhoff (R-Kokomo) recently welcomed Sts. Joan of Arc and Patrick School student Bryce Jacobs to the Statehouse where he participated in the Indiana House Page Program during the 2023 legislative session.

Jacobs, from Kokomo, assisted lawmakers and staff with daily duties, toured offices of all branches of government in the Statehouse, and joined Karickhoff on the House floor to witness and learn about the legislative process.

"The page program is a fantastic opportunity for students like Bryce, who want to learn more about Indiana and how our state government works," Karickhoff said. "I hope to see more local students sign up for this opportunity next session."

Karickhoff said students ages 13 to 18 should consider participating during the 2024 legislative session.

Hoosiers can visit indianahouserepublicans.com/pageprogram or call 1-800-382-9841 to learn more.

"Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement launching May 15

The Howard County Sheriff’s Office is joining agencies from across the state to urge drivers to buckle up during the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) national Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement effort. The national seat belt campaign, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, runs from May 15th to June 4, 2023. The overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).

“We want seat belt use to be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike,” said Sgt. Justin Markley. “It’s not just a safe thing to do — it’s the law. During the Click It or Ticket campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure the message gets out to drivers and passengers. Buckling up is the simplest thing you can do to limit injury or save your life during a crash. We see the results of not wearing a seat belt all the time. We see the loss of life. So often, it could have been prevented.”

Data from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) shows that unbuckled motorists make up almost 40 percent of all passenger vehicle deaths in the state. Since the “Click It or Ticket” initiative began more than 20 years ago, seat belt use has gone up over 30 percent in Indiana to 93 percent, which remains higher than the national average of 91.6 percent.

Despite making progress and advances in vehicle safety, in 2022, 236 unbuckled vehicle occupants lost their lives on Indiana roads – the third highest in the past decade. Young drivers, especially males, were the most likely to speed and the least likely to be buckled during a crash.

“These numbers are not just statistics, they represent real people and families that have been forever changed by the tragedy of a traffic crash,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “Many of the people we lost would still be alive today had they made the decision to buckle up. Seat belts make a difference. They save lives.”

In 2021, 57 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6 p.m.–5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts. That’s why one focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. During the campaign, participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night. Drivers can be cited for lack of seat belt use, as well as for each unbuckled passenger under the age of 16.

“No matter the type of vehicle you’re driving in or the type of road you’re driving on, the safest way to stay safe in case of a vehicle crash is to wear your seat belt,” said Markley. “Unfortunately, many families are suffering because their loved ones refused to follow this simple step.”

NHTSA data shows that seat belt use is higher among females than males. In fact, nearly twice as many males were killed in crashes as compared to females in 2021. Of the males killed in crashes during that same year, more than half (54 percent) were unrestrained. For females killed in crashes, 42 percent were not buckled up.

“If the enforcement effort alerts people to the dangers of unrestrained driving, we’ll consider our mission to be a success,” said Markley. “If you know a friend or a family member who does not buckle up when they drive, please ask them to consider changing their habits. Help us spread this lifesaving message before one more friend or family member is killed as a result of not buckling up. Seat belts save lives, and everyone — front seat and back, child and adult — needs to remember to buckle up.” Since the “Click It or Ticket” initiative began more than 20 years ago, seat belt use has gone up 30 percent in Indiana to 92.9 percent, which is slightly higher than the national average of 91.6 percent.

Research has repeatedly demonstrated the safety benefits of seat belts and the dangerous consequences when people choose not to use them. Buckling up can reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash by up to 65 percent. Without a seat belt fastened, people can be ejected from a vehicle and killed, and that risk increases if the driver is speeding or impaired. Tragically, vehicle collisions continue to be a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13, and NHTSA data shows that approximately 46 percent of all car seats are being used incorrectly. Parents and caregivers who do not buckle up are more likely to have kids who are improperly restrained.

"The loss of a child due to inadequate vehicle safety measures is a tragedy. However, it is also preventable," said Jim Bryan, ICJI Traffic Safety Director. "We owe it to our children to prioritize their safety and take every necessary precaution when it comes to their well-being.” Indiana law requires the driver and all passengers to buckle up. Children under age eight must be properly restrained in a child car seat or booster seat according to the child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to make sure children are in the right car seat and that it’s used correctly and properly installed. Resources can be found at www.nhtsa.gov/TheRightSeat. To schedule an appointment with a certified car seat safety technician at one of Indiana’s fitting stations, visit on.in.gov/SafeKids.

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit NHTSA.gov/ciot.