TxDOT holds safe driving event for teens

On Wednesday, June 12 at 9 a.m. Tx-Dot partnered with Atlanta High School to promote a safe driving event for teens. The event was at Atlanta High School with the hopes of driving home the “importance of safe behaviors behind the wheel to teens; jaws of life demo and other visuals scheduled. According to an earlier release, “The Texas Department of Transportation is partnering with Atlanta High School to educate teenagers across northeast Texas about safe driving habits. In 2023, 26 percent of those killed in crashes in the Atlanta District were under the age of 25.

“The Texas Department of Public Safety along with other organizations including Atlanta Fire, LifeNet, Watch UR Bac, When Sean Speaks, M.A.D.D. and NextStep are also taking part in the event.

“Numerous interactive displays and presentations are planned to engage and educate teens. First responders also plan to demonstrate how the jaws of life hydraulic tool is utilized in a serious vehicle crash.”

“The goal of this event is to instill safe driving habits in our young drivers. We want them to know that unsafe behaviors like impaired driving and distracted driving can have real consequences,” said Transportation Safety Specialist Emyli Speer.

Atlanta District Public Information Officer Heather Deaton was pleased with the event, “We hosted students from Atlanta ISD and Daingerfield ISD and were very pleased with the turnout! The teens were engaged, and we believe they took home some important reminders about safe driving and the consequences of impaired driving.”

“We are grateful to all of the organizations that participated in making this a successful event.”

Deaton can be reached at Heather.Deaton@ txdot.gov or 903-799-1306.