FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office of the Governor
July 28, 2002
CONTACT:  Terri Giltner (502) 564-2611 or Mark Pfeiffer (502) 564-4890  

Radio Jingle Contest Winners Encourage Kentuckians to Buckle Up
Buckle Up Kentucky…It’s the thing to do, Buckle Up Kentucky…I’m talking to you!”

FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY —(June 28, 2002) — “Buckle Up Kentucky, all it takes is just a click…Believe it or not, it makes you a cool dude or chick,” sang Christi Rowland and Katie Smith, the winners of the 2002 Buckle Up Jingle Contest, at a press conference sponsored by First Lady Judi Patton and Transportation Secretary James C. Codell today at the Capitol.  The two sixth grade students were joined by second place winner Andrea McBride for a radio recording session and awards ceremony that may just well be the launching pad for a career in the advertising business.  All three students are from Dixon Elementary School in Webster County.

 “I commend the Transportation Cabinet, the Kentucky State Police and the Governor’s Coalition for Highway Safety for sponsoring a contest that capitalizes on the fact that children are the best promoters we have for highway safety,” stated Mrs. Patton.  

The Buckle Up Jingle Contest was a key component of the seat belt public awareness campaign that was executed statewide earlier this year.  Any child enrolled in a Kentucky school during the 2001/2002 school year in grades K – 12 was eligible to compete.  All contestants were required to perform and write their own lyrics using either an original music score or one provided by the contest administrator.  All jingles had to stress the importance of wearing seat belts and use the “Buckle Up Kentucky” theme.  Prizes include having their jingle aired on statewide radio, a $250 gift certificate sponsored by AAA – Louisville, and a range of coupons and prizes sponsored by Kentucky News Network.

“Eight hundred and forty-nine lives were lost on Kentucky roads last year,” said Secretary Codell.  “The majority of these individuals were not wearing seat belts.  Passing a primary seat belt law in this state is the single biggest step we can take to improving safety on Kentucky’s highways.”

Governor Patton led a coalition of highway safety proponents in the effort to pass a primary seat belt law during the 2002 General Assembly.  The measure passed the House of Representatives but stalled in a Senate committee.

Second place winner, Andrea McBride, wrapped up the awards ceremony by performing her rap jingle that challenged all Kentuckians to  “Buckle Up Kentucky…It’s the thing to do, Buckle Up Kentucky…I’m talking to you!”

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