Teens hit the road for safe-driving program

The local team has a shot at winning $10,000 to continue its program.

STAFF REPORT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Students from New Castle Junior/Senior High School are in Nashville, Tenn., this weekend to present their teen safe-driving program at the 20th Annual National Service-Learning Conference.

The high school Project Ignition Team has participated in the national teen driver safety program, Operation Drive Safe, for two years.

The team received a $2,000 grant from State Farm Insurances last fall to create and implement their program aimed at increasing seat-belt usage, raising adherence to traffic control devices, decreasing driving distractions and stressing the dangers of drinking and driving.

The New Castle team put together a short DVD and a binder of information showcasing their efforts that was judged by the National Youth Leadership Council.

The school was notified earlier this month that its program made the Top 10 in the nation, said Donna Campbell, the team advisor.

Along with that notice came an invitation to present their program at the conference in Nashville this weekend, she said.

“They have worked nonstop since school started and most likely will continue promoting their campaign throughout the school year,” Campbell said.

The team has received an additional $5,000 grant to be used to defray expenses for the trip where members will present the program before a national audience for a chance to be named “Best of the Best” and win a $10,000 grant from the National Youth Leadership Council to further their project.

“This is a tremendous honor. We have worked extremely hard to spread the message about teen driver safety in our own community and across the state this year,” said Michael Campbell, New Castle’s team leader.

Project Ignition is a service-learning program sponsored by State Farm and the National Youth Leadership Council.

“Congratulations to New Castle High School for this wonderful accomplishment,” said Joe Spicer, a State Farm vice president. “We are grateful for students like these who, through Project Ignition, join us in promoting teen driver safety.”

New Castle’s program is one of only 25 projects across the country to be included in the 2008-09 Project Ignition program.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American teenagers. In 2005, more than 5,600 young people ages 16-20 were killed in motor vehicle accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In Pennsylvania alone, 164 young people were killed in that year.