St. Joseph – For Sheldon Lyon, of the St. Joseph Safety and Health Council, safety on Missouri’s roads is a top area of concern. Having served as a Missouri Highway Patrolman with Troop H for 29 years, Lyon has experienced first-hand the importance of safety belt usage on Missouri’s roads.

“I think my passion for safety comes from a career of observing mistakes made out on the highways and the consequences that come from that,” said Lyon.

As a safety advocate, one of the stories Mr. Lyon tells often comes from his days as a Highway Patrolman in the northwest part of the state. The story, a tragic one involving a local family, illustrates the importance of safety belt usage not only for drivers but for passengers as well.

“One careless thought or choice when a family gets in a vehicle, will devastate a family forever; and these choices are made by Missourians every day,” said Lyon.

Through four key pillars of transportation – roads, bridges, safety and economic development – the Missouri Department of Transportation is spotlighting business owners, workers, parents, students and travelers, all of whom have unique stories to tell about what matters most to them.