published: Friday, January 25, 2013

Sebring High receives safe driving grant

Special to the News-Sun

Forty-five Florida high schools, including Sebring High School, are receiving $1,000 SADD teen safe driving grants thanks to funding support from State Farm. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for Florida teens, and fatalities of Florida teen drivers and passengers increased 7 percent from 2010-2011, according to data.

State Farm recognizes the power youth have to educate each other on this important topic, and are working in partnership with Florida SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) to provide $45,000 in mini-grants to SADD chapters in local high schools all across Florida. The grants will support the development of teen safe driving campaigns using positive messages tailored to their individual schools and communities.

So far, the State Farm grant-supported SADD projects include homecoming floats, safety fairs, seat belt checks, and many other creative efforts. Many of the schools have chosen to emphasize the dangers of distracted driving, with at least one school creating a video and a device to store cell phones away while driving. Approximately 2,220 Florida SADD students are involved in the planning and implementation of these 45 projects, and together they will reach an estimated 62,000 peers.

SADD, Students Against Destructive Decisions, is a national school-based, peer-to-peer prevention, education, and activism organization committed to empowering young people to lead initiatives in their schools and communities. Founded in 1981, today Florida SADD has a total of 251 chapters across the state, 172 of which are in high schools. SADD highlights prevention of many destructive behaviors and attitudes that are harmful to young people, including underage drinking, substance abuse, risky and impaired driving, and teen violence and suicide. More about Florida SADD can be found at www.floridasadd.org, and on Facebook at Florida SADD.