Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children and teens in America. Schools are the primary source of information for children on a wide range of social and health issues. A school-based anti-impaired driving program is an ideal way to tie together these two important facts and to encourage participation in 3D Prevention Month by children and teens.
Why should schools participate in traffic safety efforts? Because you are the most effective means of reaching children and often serve as a means to educate parents about key social issues. Students as young as fourth and fifth grade may already be experimenting with alcohol and drugs, which will affect their school-work and their future. High schools and colleges know that teachers lose precious teaching time – often a week or more – when a student is injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash and the other students are mourning.
School-based programs can be incorporated several ways:
Tailor your programs to the appropriate age level of the students involved:
Elementary school: Focus on general education about substance abuse issues (be careful not to scare children into thinking that their parents are substance abusers if they are social drinkers). Emphasize buckling up, too.
Middle school: Children this age begin developing the values system that will carry them through high school. This is the time to focus on healthy messages about taking control of your body and your life, not giving in to peer pressure, etc. It’s also not too soon to remind children not to get into a car with an inexperienced, intoxicated or reckless driver. Contact Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) to learn more about its 2000 X 2000 initiative (see page 36).
High school: Younger high school students also need to be reminded of the dangers of being a passenger in a vehicle driven by an inexperienced, intoxicated or reckless driver. This is also a time when teens who had been consistent belt users as children may stop wearing a seat belt in order to be "cool." Older high school students, of course, are getting their driver’s licenses and becoming the most deadly drivers on the road. Work with parents to encourage strict rules about passengers, nighttime driving, alcohol use, belt use, etc. Educate students and parents about zero tolerance laws and minimum drinking age laws. Contact Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) to learn more about its 2000 X 2000 initiative (see page 37).
College: Binge drinking is a growing problem on college campuses, and impaired driving has always been an issue. College campuses may have an "intoxicated pedestrians" problem, especially among the students without cars. Half of all college students today are 21 or older – of legal drinking age. Programs need to be tailored to both underage drinkers and legal adult drinkers. Some colleges are developing zero tolerance policies for underage drinking and are notifying parents of alcohol incidents. Programs also emphasize positive social norms – most college students are not heavy drinkers and students should understand that alcohol use need not be part of their college experience. Contact BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network (see page 34) for more information on college programs.
For colleges and high schools, check out the NOYS Web site at www.noys.com for information on New Year’s Eve 2000.
For more information on resources available to help create school-based programs, see the listing of 3D Prevention Month Coalition members on page 34 of this guide and Program Publications for Planner 20 in this planner.
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SUCCESS STORY! |
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CHEROKEE HIGH SCHOOL PULLS OUT THE STOPS TO RAISE SAFETY AWARENESS
For an entire school year, Cherokee High School in Cherokee, North Carolina, made highway safety a top priority with students and citizens alike. The overall purpose of the campaign was to raise seat belt use in the community, beginning with the school system, and to make students and the community more aware of safety issues. The efforts of the "Cherokee Flamekeepers" group included:
One particularly clever idea was creating a "Say No to Destructive Decisions" picnic area at the school. Woodworking shop students made picnic tables for the special area where students and faculty members can gather for cookouts and special meetings. Both awareness of safe driving and actual seat belt use increased during the campaign, and the program won a national contest. For additional information, contact:
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