Buckle Up Appalachia
A Comprehensive Road Safety Initiative
Meet “Buckle Up Appalachia”
Buckle Up Appalachia is a comprehensive road safety initiative that expands upon the success of the Buckle Up for Life (BUFL) program.
The Buckle Up for Life program at Appalachian Promise Alliance (formerly Bristol’s Promise) focused on child passenger safety, offering car seat education, inspections, and free car seat distributions to families in need. The program’s success laid the foundation for expanding into broader road safety initiatives, including teen driver safety and older driver safety.
In March 2025, the program was renamed Buckle Up Appalachia to reflect its expanded focus on improving road safety across the Appalachian Highlands region. With this rebranding, the initiative is committed to educating and protecting road users of all ages, addressing issues like distracted driving, impaired driving, and teen driver safety.
Our Five Promises
Caring
Adults
Safe
Spaces
Effective
Education
Healthy
Starts
Opportunities
to Serve
Our mission aligns with the Five Promises outlined by America’s Promise by equipping youth to succeed in life.
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- Ensure Caring Adults provide guidance on safe driving.
- Promote Safe Places through initiatives that foster safer roads and communities.
- Integrate road safety into Effective Education, equipping young drivers with the knowledge and skills needed for responsible driving decisions.
- Encourage Healthy Starts by preventing injuries and fatalities through car seat safety and driver education.
- Offer Opportunities to Serve by empowering youth to engage in peer-to-peer advocacy and community outreach to promote road safety awareness.
Our Programs
Buckle Up for Life: Child Passenger Safety
At the heart of Buckle Up Appalachia, this program ensures proper car seat use and installation through the following means:
- Car Seat Education & Inspections – Training caregivers to install and use car seats correctly.
- Foreign Car Seat Education & Inspections – Guidance for families traveling overseas to Australia and Europe.
- Booster Seat Education – Helping caregivers understand the proper transition to booster seats.
- Free Car Seat Distribution – Providing low-income families with free car seats to ensure safe travel for children.
Road Ready Seniors: Senior Driver Safety
This program helps older drivers maintain safe driving habits by offering the following:
- CarFit Events – Helping seniors adjust their vehicles for optimal safety and comfort.
- AARP Smart Driver Course – A comprehensive driving course for individuals aged 50+, designed to improve driving habits and address age-related changes.
Steer Clear: Safe Roads for Teens
Focused on reducing teen driver crashes, Steer Clear includes:
- Impact Teen Drivers Program – Educating young drivers on distracted driving and reckless driving.
- Tennessee Checkpoints Program – Helping teens and parents manage risks associated with new teen drivers through a driving agreement.
- Fatal Vision Goggles – Simulating impaired driving to help teens understand the dangers of distracted and drowsy driving.
Teen Driver Safety Education is Critical!
Some unfortunate statistics from our region:
- Washington County, TN, ranks among Tennessee’s top 10 counties for teen driver crashes.
- Sullivan County, TN, had one of the highest ER visit rates for teen motor vehicle crashes in 2021 (TN Department of Health).
Rail Safety
Operation Lifesaver Presentations:
Educational sessions that focus on rail safety awareness and promoting safety near railroad tracks.
Pedal Safe Appalachia: Bicycle Safety
Workshops designed to teach children safe bicycle riding practices, emphasizing helmet use, traffic awareness, and safe riding techniques.
Last Year’s Impact in Numbers
104
Car seats we provided to local families in need in 2024.
92
Individuals we provided with car seat, bicycle, and disctracted driving education in 2024.
Testimonials
“Sam is a great advocate for child passenger safety, whose volunteer work has impacted the lives of many among the neediest families in the Bristol area…. With this award, we thank Sam for his service. We couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of the 2017-2018 BUFL Coordinator of the Year award than he is.”
“Thanks for your presentation today. Very informative and useful information that we can practice and hopefully make a habit of doing each day.”
Partnerships & Support
Buckle Up Appalachia is proud to work with the Niswonger Children’s Hospital Children’s Resource Center, Bristol Tennessee Fire Rescue, Bristol Tennessee Police Department, Tennessee Highway Safety Office, Beyond Housing (formerly Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority), Virginia Department of Health, Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety, and Buckle Up for Life. Through these partnerships, we can offer a wide range of services and ensure the success of our programs.
Get Involved
Join us in making the Appalachian Highlands region safer for everyone on the road. Your support helps provide vital resources, from free car seats to educational programs that can save lives.
Volunteer
Lend your time and skills to our community events or educational initiatives around road safety.
Partner with Us
Collaborate with us to expand our impact and make a lasting difference in road safety.
Donate
Contribute to our mission by helping fund car seat distributions and safety training for those in need
Contact Us
Schedule an educational workshop, or learn how you can contribute to our efforts.
Meet the Buckle Up Appalachia Team
Samuel Jones
Buckle Up Appalachia Senior Program Coordinator
With a wealth of certifications and experience, Samuel’s expertise spans a range of areas, including car seat safety, international certifications, teen driver education, older driver safety, and rail safety. Samuel’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including the 2017-2018 Coordinator of the Year award from Buckle Up for Life and two Child Passenger Safety Hero awards from Kidz in Motion (2016 and 2024). His efforts have also been recognized by state and national leaders, earning him titles like Kentucky Colonel and Honorary Tennessean.
Samuel holds a Master of Arts in Human Services from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.