Flasher joins Vision Zero Schools
For Immediate Release: Dec 14 2021
Bismarck, ND – The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) introduced Flasher Public School as the latest to join Vision Zero Schools, a program aimed at increasing awareness among North Dakota teens about the importance of traffic safety.
Representatives from Vision Zero and school resource officer Morton County Deputy David Tomlinson were among those who made the announcement at a school assembly this morning.
Vision Zero Schools gives students the opportunity to be traffic safety advocates by appearing in banners, PSAs and more. Students share motor vehicle safety messages in their school and community to build a culture where motor vehicle fatalities and serious injuries are recognized as preventable and not tolerated.
“Participating in Vision Zero Schools is a no brainer. Spreading the message about safe driving habits is something students need to hear, we all need to hear,” said Flasher Principal and driver’s education instructor Brian Nieuwsma. “By focusing on distracted driving and speeding, we hope our students will put their safety and the safety of others first by being alert members of the highway transportation system. When students hear positive messages from their classmates, we hope they will take the initiative to drive distraction-free and follow all posted speed limits.”
“Young driver inexperience, coupled with immaturity, often results in risk-taking behavior such as speeding, alcohol/drug use, driving distracted, and not wearing a seat belt – all of which contribute to an increased death rate,” said Lauren Bjork, NDDOT Safety Public Information Program Manager. Teen drivers age 14-19 account for 5% of all licensed drivers but are behind the wheel in nearly 20% of all crashes.
Flasher joins Kidder County in the Vision Zero Schools program. You can find the schools’ PSAs on the Vision Zero website. Schools interested in participating should contact the NDDOT Safety Public Information Program Manager at 701-328-2598.
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