Monday, September 24, 2007
Mock crash shows 'it could happen to you'
A mock crash at Glenvar High School taught students about the potential dangers of driving.
Photo by Elizabeth Sallie | Home School
This red sports car was part of a mock crash at Glenvar High School to teach students about the potential dangers of driving.
Correction: Jessica Shepard was misidentified in the last quote of the story. This online version has been updated to fix the error.
"Caution: Accident Ahead" read signs in Glenvar High School’s parking lot Thursday.
A red, crushed sports car, surrounded by cones and caution tape, greeted students at the entrance of the parking lot.
White signs led up to the car, with messages such as, "If I was wearing a seat belt..." and "If I wasn’t talking on a cell phone..."
The display was part of Youth of Virginia Speak Out’s three-week campaign, "Save Your Tailgate."
YOVASO is a statewide traffic safety awareness program. Elizabeth Ferguson, an assistant with the program, said the group’s mission is to "educate, encourage and empower teens to take a stand for traffic safety."
Jessica Shepard and Kara Turner, both seniors at Glenvar and members of YOVASO, talked about the purpose of the staged wreck and their thoughts on teenage drivers.
Shepard, 18, said the crashed car was to show that "it could happen to you." She said YOVASO is a movement "to keep students’ awareness up."
Although teens are typically thought of as inexperienced drivers, Turner and Shepard said they would both consider the majority of the teens they know to be safe drivers.
One thing that concerns them, though, is the use of cellphones while driving.
Despite the new law making it illegal for drivers younger than 18 to use their cellphone, Shepard and Turner said it hasn’t made a lot of difference in teenage driving habits.
"I think until they get in trouble [for breaking the law], it’s not going to change," Shepard said.
"I still have a bad habit of wanting to pick my phone up," added Turner, 17.
She says she doesn’t answer her phone while driving. Instead, she waits until she’s not driving to call the person back.
Founded in 2001, YOVASO has programs in 22 schools.
All Roanoke County schools are participating in the program, Ferguson said.
Participating schools compete for points, which are earned through various activities that promote awareness, such as the mock-car crash at Glenvar.
The three schools with the most points earn a prize.
The "Save Your Tailgate" campaign is to encourage seat belt usage among teenagers.
"I hope to see our seat belt rates go up," Shepard said.
The students want other teens to know that they should take driving seriously.
"You’re dealing with your life in driving. It’s not just a game," Turner said.
"And your seat belt could save your life," Shepard added.
On the Net: www.yovaso.net
