Elkville teens serious about slowing down for safety
The Elverado High School ALPHA students are currently sponsoring an Operation Teen Safe Driving program. A survey conducted by the ALPHA (Adolescent Leaders For Positive, Healthy Assets) students in December found that 78% of EHS students wear a seatbelt while driving or riding in a car. The ALPHA students wanted to do something to increase seatbelt use, while also drawing attention to the dangers of speeding and texting while driving. EHS senior student Alexandria Ratajczak created a mascot for a safe driving program to be based on, which is a wolf speeding down the road with the message, "Speed: The thrill that kills!"
The ALPHA students have sponsored several activities through their Operation Teen Safe Driving program. All EHS students have been encouraged to use Ford Motor Company's' Driving Skills for Life websit (www.drivingskillsforlife.com). The website features safe driving tips and tutorials. To encourage EHS students to utilize the website, students who complete a driving quiz on the website receive either a USB drive or drawstring bag. ALPHA students have also passed out cups with a safe driving message at basketball games and made posters featuring safe driving statistics and tips.
More activities are planned for the program throughout February. Students will have a guest speaker on distracted driving and the ALPHA students are sponsoring a door decorating contest, in which classes are challenged to decorate their door with a safe driving slogan. ALPHA will be hosting a Camouflage Day, during which all students are invited to wear camouflage. ALPHA is hoping this will be a fun way to remind all students to slow down and watch out for hidden dangers while driving, such as deer. ALPHA students are also working on filming a short commercial emphasizing the dangers of speeding; the commercial will then be shown to all EHS students. A second survey will be conducted by ALPHA students at the end of February to see if seat belt use rates have increased and to poll attitudes toward speeding.
The Operation Teen Safe Driving program is funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation, Allstate Foundation, and Ford Motor Company. Between 70 to 105 high schools statewide participate in the program each year.