Virginia teens train to be youth traffic safety advocates

BRIDGEWATER — High school students from across Virginia are learning safer driving practices and training to serve as youth traffic safety advocates during a Leadership Retreat this week sponsored by Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety. The retreat is began Tuesday and runs through Friday at Bridgewater College in Bridgewater.

Approximately 182 students and 38 sponsors are attending. The participants represent 35 Virginia schools including Brooke Point High School, which is represented at the retreat.

Organized around the theme, “Be Realistic, Not a Statistic,” the Youth Leadership Retreat includes educational and motivational activities. These activities are designed to prepare participants to be safer drivers and to serve as youth traffic safety advocates in their schools and communities. Students will participate in a high-tech texting and distracted driving simulator, hear from national motivational speakers, learn about Virginia driving laws, participate in a mock trial, and learn how to develop their own traffic safety initiatives. 

Participants will also receive a free copy of the newly-released book, “3 Keys To Keeping Your Teen Alive.” The books are being donated by the Teens Learn to Drive Foundation Inc., a Florida-based non-profit corporation.

“Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teenagers and in order to have an impact on this problem, we need to involve our youth,” explained Mary King, YOVASO Program Administrator.

Students will also participate in a Candlelight Vigil in memory of the 83 teenagers killed in motor vehicle crashes in Virginia during 2010. Students will also sign a pledge to speak out during the 2011-2012 school year to encourage their friends and peers to drive safely.

An awards banquet will also be held.  

YOVASO is a grant funded, safe driving program for teens. It is administered by the Virginia State Police Association and funded through a grant from the Virginia Highway Safety Office.  YOVASO currently has 88 member schools. For more information about YOVASO, call (540) 345-0003 or visit yovaso.net.

— Press release