Students at Jones County High School received an up-close-and-personal lesson about the importance and effectiveness of seatbelts last week as part of a safety education grant received by the Gray Police Department.
Officers with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety brought a rollover simulator and a seatbelt convincer. They were setup in front of the high school April 3. Students saw first-hand what happens in a rollover, with and without a seatbelt.
The driver wearing a seatbelt remained in his seat, while his passenger came out the window and landed underneath the vehicle.
GOHS Officers Donnie Winfield and Cam Reed said they bring the demonstrations to high schools across the state in an attempt to keep young drivers safe. Winfield said they set up the demonstrations three times a week.
“We want them to see how wearing a seatbelt can keep them safe,” Winfield said.
When they are not on the road, Reed said they manage safety grants like the one received by GPD. Reed said Georgia traffic fatalities are 20 percent down from last year, but the number of fatalities for 2026 is still 251.
“Sixty percent of them were not wearing their seatbelts. The question is how many of those would still be with us if they were wearing their seatbelts,” Reed said.
The officer noted that seatbelt usage had been at 90 percent for decades, but for some reason since the COVID-19 pandemic, the percentage has dropped to 60 percent.
Both Winfield and Reed said they came to GOHS from law enforcement departments.
Winfield said the rollover simulator shows what happens in a 25-mph accident, but most accidents exceed that speed. He said the seatbelt convincer demonstrates the force of a 5-7 mph crash, but most crashes are over 25 mph.
Students who volunteered to try the seatbelt convincer slid down a ramp in a simulated automobile seat while secured with a seatbelt. The ride ends abruptly at the bottom with unexpected force, but everyone is safe.
Gray Police Department Maj. Mark Robinson authored the grant and was at the high school to watch the demonstrations. The major said GPD is partnering with Jones County High School for educational classes and information about the importance of wearing seatbelts. The rollover simulator and seatbelt convincer are part of the required quarterly education events. The grant in the amount of $33,144 was received in November of 2025 and will continue through September. Funding for the grant is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is awarded based upon the partnership with GOHS in helping to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities across the State of Georgia.
Robinson said GPD purchased two radar units with the funds and the remainder, $26,000, would be used for officer salaries who are working on the issues supported by the grant.
The grant will continue through September of 2026 and is renewable.
The first of the quarterly events included posters created in coordination with the art department and placed at the high school in January. The messages on the posters included the importance of wearing seatbelts, no texting while driving and slowing down.
Robinson said the posters were the first of four events that the department will sponsor in connection with the grant. He said the idea behind each of the events will be drivers’ safety.
