Friday, April 9, 2004

Banneker receives Governor’s highway safety grant

In an effort to involve Georgia students in reducing injury and death to young drivers, the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) has awarded a highway safety grant to Banneker High School in College Park to establish a new or enhance an existing SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Chapter. GOHS believes that student input into the solution will help alleviate the problem of teen driver fatalities in Georgia.

According to GOHS Director Robert F. Dallas, “Our state’s teen drivers represent a disproportionate number of drivers involved in crashes that involve injuries and deaths on Georgia’s roadways. We look forward to our SADD chapters working with their peers to change the perception that crashes are accidents, which can’t be prevented. They can. Our hope is to have every high school student graduate without being involved in a crash or any student being injured or killed in a crash.”

During 2001 there were 230 fatalities on Georgia highways involving 16-20 year olds. Unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes, are the number one cause of death in the United States for ages 1-34.

By having a comprehensive effort statewide, GOHS/SADD plans to cover teen driving issues including safety belt use, speed, inexperience, and impaired driving in a coordinated manner. Participating schools will focus on a variety of highway safety issues throughout the school year.

The Banneker GOHS/SADD chapter plans to conduct Red Ribbon Activities, attend the Dodge Teen Driver Program, Georgia Teen Ride with P.R.I.D.E. (Parents Reducing Incidents of Driver Error), attend the Click It or Ticket Press Conference, sponsor Buckle Up Georgia Students B.U.G.S., Seat Belt Survey, Sponsor Drug Awareness for 9th graders, team with Youth Crime Watch of America, participate in the Banneker Health Fair, join in with Fulton County Health and Wellness Department and a host of other activities.

Additionally, the Banneker SADD chapter will send its president and advisor to a statewide leadership-training program this fall along with the representatives from other high schools that received similar grants.