By Kaaleen J.
When I was in high school we had assemblies to talk to us about a lot different things: sexual harassment, bullying, saving money and we would always have our school musicals. We would also have MADD come in and talk to us and scare us out of drinking and driving. It worked for me but I knew some fellow students that didn’t take any of it to heart, either they were talking, on their phone or they skipped the assembly altogether. I feel like they were not engaged enough about the topic of driving behaviors. I know that if things were more hands on there would be a better response from the students.
The Sweet Life Road Show is something I honestly wish was available when I was in high school. The stations dedicated to the major driving behaviors that are costs teens their lives are done so well. I really love the way it gets the youth 100% involved, and because they have to move from station to station it gives them a chance to keep their energy levels up.
They get to learn about things that I honestly had very little knowledge about. I would have loved to learn about sharing the road with trucks, it could have helped my confidence driving in the express lane next to a large transport truck. I would have loved to sit in the driver’s seat of a truck a) to feel like I am on top of the world and b) so really see how big the blind spots truly are.
Today if you don’t have a cell phone you may as well not have a head we are so attached to our devices we forget about safety. The event touches on one of the most dangerous driving behaviors known to teens: distracted driving. By explaining to the youth (in an innovative and interactive way) multitasking cannot be done – they understand the dangers of driving distracted. It really brought me a lot of joy to see the looks on the students’ faces when they realized how dangerous all of these driving behaviors can be. They no longer feel invincible or that nothing can hurt them. They get a strong dose of reality and they get it before it is too late.
