COLUMBIA – Students from 12 Missouri high schools participated in a mock DWI crash during the TRACTION – teens taking action to prevent traffic crashes, youth traffic safety leadership training conference held at the Stoney Creek Inn and Conference Center in Columbia July 26 through 28.
From 2015-2017, there were 38 fatal crashes and 135 serious injury crashes involving a substance-impaired driver under 21 years of age. There were 53 people killed and 184 seriously injured in these crashes. The mock crash was designed to simulate the conditions and situations a student might encounter in a real automobile collision, including emergency responders and law enforcement.
Columbia Fire Department, Boone County Sheriff’s Department, Parker-Millard Funeral Home, Missouri State Highway Patrol and MU Ambulance Service assisted in the mock crash. High school students from La Monte, Fatima, Sheldon, Harrisonville, Liberty, Washington, Madison, Dixon, East Buchanan, North Shelby, Exeter, and Carrollton participated.
TRACTION – teens taking action to prevent traffic crashes, is a statewide peer-to-peer program sponsored by the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Cape Girardeau Police Department that is committed to promoting safe driving habits for youth while discouraging underage drinking, drinking and driving, driver inattention and promoting safety belt usage.
After an initial training session, TRACTION youth create and implement action plans for school and community activities in an effort to reduce unsafe driving habits and the death or serious injury resulting from traffic crashes.
TRACTION is available to all schools in Missouri. For more information about how your school can become involved in this program call 1-800-800-BELT (2358).
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