#VilleDrivesSafe 2020

How many students heard the message?
1000

Estimated percentage of your student body?
91-100%

Who has your project aimed to reach?

  • Freshman class
  • Sophomore class
  • Junior class
  • Senior class
  • Parents
  • Community at large

Objective:
Our objective is to teach our school and community about SAFE DRIVING to make our school and community safer. This year, we have included the dangers of distracted driving, the dangers of impaired driving, and pedestrian safety.

Target Audience:
All SHS students: Informational bulletin boards, morning announcements, and pedestrian safety keychain giveaways
Juniors & Seniors: Every 15 Minutes Program
Freshman: Pedestrian Safety Presentation at start of school year
Entire community: Pedestrian safety tips on Twitter

Execution:
Our program #VilleDrivesSafe is both driver focused and pedestrian focused. In May 2019, our “Every 15 Minutes” program focused on the dangers of drinking or texting while driving. Driver safety has been our main focus for the past few years. However, this year two students were hit by a car outside of our school at night. This incident refocused our attention to pedestrian safety in our neighborhood. We met with our school security officer and local police officers who are trained in traffic safety. We interviewed the experts and plan to share safety tips with students through our morning announcement videos. We have also designed school spirit safety keychains that are reflective. We hope that as students add them to their backpacks, it will help drivers notice them at night. We are also planning to ask for additional street signs to remind drivers to slow down.

Teamwork:
Many groups within our school have worked as a team: SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) members, Pioneer Studios & Photography Club, and our Security Officer. The community has also collaborated: the Police Department, Fire Department, and Emergency Services.

Use of Resources:
We collaborated with our school security officer, principal, and police department.

Use of Media:
Our “Every 15 Minutes” video is on YouTube and has been shown to our 2019 Juniors and Seniors. We also posted 10 Pedestrian Safety Tips on our Twitter account (@SomervilleSADD) to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Champion School and to raise awareness during COVID-19.

Thoroughness:
Our program #VilleDrivesSafe is both driver focused and pedestrian focused. In May 2019, our “Every 15 Minutes” program focused on the dangers of drinking or texting while driving. Driver safety has been our main focus for the past few years. However, this year two students were hit by a car outside of our school at night. This incident refocused our attention to pedestrian safety in our neighborhood. We met with our school security officer and local police officers who are trained in traffic safety. We interviewed the experts and plan to share safety tips with students through our morning announcement videos. We have also designed school spirit safety keychains that are reflective. We hope that as students add them to their backpacks, it will help drivers notice them at night. We are also planning to ask for additional street signs to remind drivers to slow down.

Impact:
Our group brainstormed ways to improve pedestrian safety around our school. We researched to find keychains that are reflective and meant for pedestrian safety. We were excited to find a small business in NJ that could manufacture a design to involve school spirit as well. Our pedestrian safety keychains were delivered to our school soon after it shut down due to COVID-19. Our principal sent us this image when they arrived, and we are excited to hand them out in the fall during the annual pedestrian safety presentation for freshman. We will keep track of the number of reflective keychains handed out to measure our impact.

Sustainability:
Our program has grown each year. Years ago, we focused on the dangers of driving while impaired. Students return and tell us that “Every 15 Minutes” has had a huge impact on them. We still run that program every two years so we reach all students. Physical reminders, such as our lanyards and keychains, will remind students and community members about safe driving and pedestrian safety.

Unexpected Lessons Learned:
COVID-19 has delayed some aspects of our project, so we plan to continue it next year. We want to advocate for more street signs, and possibly a lower speed limit near our school. We also plan to facilitated “Every 15 Minutes” again for our new drivers.

Stipend Reporting:

  • Reflective Keychains: $475

Total: $475

MEDIA