That’s how some teens in Tennessee expressed their anger about other teens who drive distracted. They worry about their friends but they also are angry that they would take chances while driving-not only for themselves and their passengers but everyone else on the road. I spent two days in Tennessee speaking at 4 different high schools. The trip was coordinated with the help of Amanda Brown from the TN Governor’s Highway Safety Office and Officer Scottie King from the Gallatin Police Department.
I started at Westmoreland High School and had the pleasure of working with Alex Minor and Matalan Looper whom I met at a NOYS conference in Washington, D.C. They are wonderful young women and great student leaders and organized a day of events at their high school. Camilla McDonald, a counselor at the school was the faculty advisor.
That program was followed by others at Gallatin High School, Station Camp High School and Merrol Hyde Magnet School. All told I spoke with more than 1600 students.
After listening to the students, I am convinced that we can change our culture of driving with the help of our youth. They really care about each other and once they understood the dangers of all types of distracted driving, committed to changing the way they drive and working to help those that they care about change the way they drive.
Thank you everyone for being such great hosts!
