LAMOURE, N.D. (NewsDakota.com/NDDOT) – Representatives from Vision Zero, along with student leaders and law enforcement officers, officially announced LaMoure as a Vision Zero School today at an assembly.
The student leaders, who are featured in a traffic safety banner and public service announcements (PSAs), picked distracted driving as their safety emphasis. Students showcased the banner and PSAs at the event, as well as led a game show version of Traffic Safety Trivia for their classmates.
“I like being able to use my voice to show my peers that even though we are young, we can inform others about the dangers of distracted driving and make a difference,” explains LaMoure Junior Bailie Kelley.
“Safety is important for all of our students, and I’m glad our student leaders have taken the initiative to spread the Vision Zero message throughout our school and community,” said LaMoure Principal Lucas Isaacson.
Since joining the Vision Zero School program in March, LaMoure student leaders have:
Helped another school with a Vision Zero Day.
Utilized Impact Teen Drivers resources to provide small group presentations to their peers on the dangers of reckless and distracted driving.
Helped at a car seat check-up event in their community.
Assisted with planning other educational activities within their school.
Participated in a Driving Skills for Success event in West Fargo.
Assisted with the Vision Zero booth at Big Iron in West Fargo.
The Loboes have also received support from their community with grant funding from AgCounty’s Giving and Growing Program for clothing, the LaMoure Baseball Boosters for impaired and distracted driving educational tools and the North Dakota Farmer Union’s Kommunity Kids Program to be used towards promotional items to create awareness of their efforts as a Vision Zero School
Vision Zero Outreach Coordinators are working in schools across North Dakota to reduce serious injuries and fatalities among teens by improving driving behaviors. Inexperience, coupled with immaturity, often results in risk-taking behaviors such as speeding, alcohol/drug use, driving distracted and not wearing a seat belt – all of which contribute to an increased death rate among teens.