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Students Lead Safe Driving Campaign

by KREX News Room
by Courtney Griffin

Story Created: Nov 15, 2012 at 8:17 PM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 15, 2012 at 8:40 PM MDT

FRUITA, Colo.- Friends, music and phones can all distract a driver. As a result, Rocky Mountain Orthopaedic Associates, School District 51 and St. Mary's Hospital came together to create the Decide to Drive Campaign.

"There are a lot of terrible drivers out there that you have to look out for," said Jordan Sederlin, sponsor of the Decide to Drive Campaign.

The Grand Valley has created a proclamation marking November as Decide to Drive month, and high school students around the Grand Valley are helping spread the word.

"Statistics don't lie that distracted driving does cause harm, and it is a bad thing to do; it's just not safe," said Sederlin.

With the Decide to Drive campaign taking place, students will be better informed about the laws and dangers of distracted driving.

"Any time you can get a message out from the students to the students, you tend to get their attention. This is a really important message to get out to our kids," said Todd McClaskey, assistant principal at Fruita Monument High School.

Students are volunteering to help sponsor the campaign to encourage following the laws among their peers.

Organizers say while students drive to and from school and leave for lunch, some of their biggest concerns are texting and driving.

"They feel that a text can't wait five minutes, so they answer the text. I think that's the biggest one for teenagers," said Bradin Ball, sponsor of the Decide to Drive Campaign.

The sponsors say they believe the campaign will bring awareness and show students it's not alright to break the law.

"Kids hear it all the time from adults when they tell them don't drive distracted, but I think when they hear it from someone their age or a friend they really take it to heart. They consider it a lot more," said Ball.

The sponsors say they will be setting up outside athletic events to continue getting the word out.

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