Decatur Central High School - Hawkeye Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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Seat Belts Affect Our Futures The Indiana Seat Belt Law, ef- fective on July 1, 1987, is a con- troversial subject. Upon the threat of being told that they have to wear a seat belt or possibly pay a fine, many peo- ple are standing up and defending their rights. In 1985, 661 Hoosiers were killed in car accidents while not wearing seat belts. The number of people injured while not wearing any restraint was 44,841. Com- menting on why Indiana needs a seat belt law, Bob Donovan, Pro- gram Manager for the Division of Traffic Safety stated, They are just dropping like flies out there. This new law is expected not only to decrease the number of in- juries and deaths, but also to help reduce the number of dollars spent each year in connection with car accidents. An estimated 290 lives will be saved and 7,900 injuries prevented each year because of the seat belt law. Also, 146 teenagers in Indiana between the ages of 15 and 19 were killed last year in car accidents, while more than 11,000 were seriously injured. Annually, Indiana pays $1.3 billion toward medical, rehabilita- tion, unemployment, and welfare costs. Something needs to be done and the seat belt law pro- mises to help. Another excuse some people have is the belief that seat belts do not need to be worn when traveling at low speeds or for short distances. This can quickly be proven wrong because more than 80% of all accidents happen- ed at speeds of less than 40 mph. Also recorded is that three out of every four accidents occur within 25 miles of home. Many people hold the fear that if they wear a seat belt they could be trapped in a burning or submerged car. Less than one half of one percent of all injury- producing collisions involve fire or submersion, according to the pamphlet How Many of These Fairy Tales Have You Told? sup- plied by the Division of Traffic Safety, Indiana Department of Highways. The results from a poll con- ducted by Indiana University show that Hoosiers do understand the importance of seat belts. Reached by phone, 81% of those contacted felt that seat belts are preventive health measures. Of these, 66.1% believed that mak- ing a law is the only way to get people to wear their seat belts. Because of the great number of drunk drivers out on the roads to- day, people need to be prepared and take precautions. However, the only precaution that can be taken is to wear a seat belt or not travel in a car. Proving how well a seat belt law can work, Australia released in- jury reduction reports. During the first two years of the law, beginn- ing in 1972, eye injuries were reduced by 30%, facial injuries by 33%. This alone is reason enough for making the law mandatory in the United States. More than 30 countries have some form of seat belt law. Car accidents are one of the most common and grotesque ways to die in American today. By supporting the seat belt law, perhaps the death rate will drop. It takes only a minute to buckle up. So make it click together and save lives. Seat belts 173

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Vanslyke, Brian 137 Vanvlymen, Teal Lee 137 Vaughn, Donald 137 Vaughn, Hiram Kent 122 Vaughn, J. Scott 91, 137 Vehorn, CarlaA. 130 Vincent, Kimberly 137 Vinson, Sherry Kim 56, 111 Vorhies, Christopher W. 130 L W Wade, Carolyn 57, 117, 122 Wade, Sharon 42, 111 Wagner, Mathew26, 105, 11 Wagoner, Kimberley43, 111 Waites, James 9, 103, 111 Waites, Thomas 18, 39, 43, 81, 90, 130 Waldon, Betty 111 Waldrup, James D. 122 Waldrup, Jonathan 137 Waldrup, Kari A. 41, 43, 53, 54, 57, 78, 122 Walker, Kelly 42, 122 Walker, Stacy L. 57, 68, 137 Walker, Todd 18, 55, 80, 96, 111, 115 Wallace, Matthew 130 Wallace, Tonia 130 Walpole, David 66, 143 Walters, Angela 54, 137 Walton, Sean S. 57, 122 Wand, Cynthia L 5, 49, 111 Warden, Lisa M. 122 Watkins, Dionna 42, 122 Watkins, Jaceann 48, 130 Watson, Andra 57, 70, 89, 130 Watson, Bradley 137 Watson, Kim 8, 9 Watson, Paula 65 Watts, Ronald 37, 72, 95 Weaver, Karyn L. 54, 130 Weaver, Ryan 130 Webb, Stephen E. 56, 111 Webb, Tina M. 137 Webster, David K. 54, 72 Webster, Phil 66, 143 Weiss, Shawna 49, 137 Wells, Johnny II 137 Wenzlick, Susan M. 47, 57, 62, 74, 75, 111,115 Wesiliski, Toni 111 Wheeler, Donna K. 62, 89, 122 Wheeler, Kimberly A. 25, 57, 122 Wheeler, Steven 81, 90, 130 Whitaker, Gail 56, 111 Whitaker, Mark 130 White, Felisha Y. 82, 83 White, Heather 22, 23, 53, 54, 122 White, William 130 Whitfield, T. J. 143 Whitlow, Douglas 37, 122 Whitlow, Jennifer 5, 21, 43, 57, 111 Whitmore, John R. 30, 48, 122 Widner, Charles Farris 137 Widner, Shannon L. 56, 70, 122 Wiese, Heather 130 Wilbur, David A. 57 Wilder, Melissa 49, 53, 137 Wilkerson, Michael T. 80, 137 Willard, Joseph W. 130 Williams, Brian 8, 111 Williams, Cheryle D. 41, 111 Williams, Deana J. 122 Williams, Earl Leroy 10, 55, 57, 64, 122 Williams, Johnny 112 Williams, Michele L. 57, 122 Williams, Michelle R. 57, 78, 130 Williams, R. Anthony 137 Williams, Sabreena 23, 47, 112 Williams, Stacey 47, 130 Williamson, Joel I. 122 Willis, David H. 112, 114 Wills, Kenneth 143 Wilson, Michael A. 44, 122 Wilson, Michael B. 122 Wilson, Nancy 48, 143 Winningham, Anissa 43, 1 12 Winsted, MaryJ. 137 Wise, Shawna L. 42, 54, 122 Wise, Tommy D. 137 Wix, Chad 55, 57, 91, 131, 137 Wolfe, Johnnie G. 4, 74, 75, 129, 130, 161 Wolfer, Amy 42, 55, 57, 62, 122 Wood, Scott A. 91,137 Wood, Terri 34, 55, 112 Woods, Joey 64, 90 Woodson, Alisa 42, 122 Wooldridge, Kimberly 130 Wright, Darrin L. 122 Wright, Michael J. 137 Wright, Shanon 37, 57, 65 Wright, Tuan A. 90, 130 Wyatt, Michael 137 Wyatt, Michelle L 131,137 Wycoff, Jeffrey C. 5, 122 Wynn, Wanda 130 S3 tf Yaden, Scott 60 Yates, James A. 26, 57, 64, 122 Yates, Lisa 130 Yeary, Alan 137 Young, John 84, 112 Young, Larry 143 Young, Marvin B. 112 Young, Teresa 112 Zachary, David 11, 130 Zachary, Shelley M. 112 -V SJri i„»J V L UN I AbfcUUb 172 Index

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74e P Ude % SW Junior Larry Lewis listens to a lecture in Geometry class. The math department held help sessions every Thursday after school. Sophomores show their enthusiasm dur- ing the pep session before the Snow Com- ing game. The Hawks defeated the Speed way Spark plugs with a last minute shot. Junior Debbie Tutsie slides into second. Debbie also played the position of 3rd base on the Softball team. 174 Closing