Appling County resident Victoria Cox, 17, buckles up every time she gets in her car.

Ask Victoria Cox, 17, an 11th grader at Appling Christian Academy, if she thinks wearing a seat belt is important. She will tell you it is very important and show you evidence of why she believes so strongly about wearing a seat belt. Had it not been for encouragement from a teacher at Appling Christian and actually wearing a seat belt, Victoria may have not been able to do this interview.

 

Victoria is actively promoting that teenagers and adults wear seat belts through a program in her school called Drive Alive. The Drive Alive Program is administered under a grant from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, through the Department of Public Health, Injury Prevention Division. This grant is referred to as the Rural Roads Initiative. The goal is to reduce the teen death rate for drivers in Southeast Georgia.

The elements of the Drive Alive Program include education, incentives, programs/activities, and law enforcement support to influence and encourage students to make responsible decisions as well as to understand the need to obey traffic laws and wear seat belts. Seat belt surveys are conducted at the schools to determine the percentages of students that are wearing seat belts. Statistical data is collected and evaluated by the University of Georgia to determine what affect this program is having in the various communities. From this data, the programs and activities are specifically designed at each school to bring attention to the need to obey the law and use seat belts. The end result is to get students to come to the realization that seat belts save lives.

"Every time I get into a vehicle I have a choice on whether or not to wear my seat belt," said Cox. "Some will take this decision lightly, but I do not. A seat belt prevented me from being ejected from a car and let me walk away with only scratches and bruises. When I get into a vehicle my decision is simple; I will wear my seat belt."

Victoria's car was totaled during a car accident. Fortunately, she was wearing her seatbelt, which saved her from serious injury or even death.

Victoria was involved in a vehicle accident when she was just 16 and recalled the following about the accident.

"It seemed to last for a long time, but it really only took a few seconds. Driving home from a state championship, I opened my eyes to see that I had crossed lanes and was driving in a ditch. Next thing I know I hit a culvert and my car began to flip. I saw glass flying and I heard the screams of little girls. I gripped the wheel in fear of my life, closed my eyes and hoped my life wasn't over. When the car finally landed I opened my eyes and realized I was upside down, but alive. A seat belt had saved my life."

"A week before my accident our school began the Drive Alive Program encouraging people to wear their seat belts. My experience is a positive testimony why people should wear their seat belt and I share it as much as possible."

As part of promoting the Drive Alive Program, Victoria and a few other classmates conduct surprise inspections. The group arrives at school before other classmates and conducts a survey of students and adults wearing seat belts as they drive on campus. As an incentive to get students at the school to wear their seat belts, a drawing for a prize is held for only the students that are recorded wearing a seat belt. The group also distributes pamphlets by placing them on vehicles as a reminder of the importance of seat belts.

The Drive Alive Program was started at Appling Christian Academy thanks to teacher Melanie Claxton. Claxton talked to Appling County EMS Director Jimmy Twiggs about starting a program for seat belt safety at the school. Twiggs then contacted Billy Fulks, Community Outreach Specialist with the Georgia Department of Human Services, and the duo teamed up to bring the program to the school. Claxton, Twiggs and Fulks got Victoria and other students involved in promoting the program.

I asked Victoria what she would like to see come from her efforts in promoting this program. "I want to see others benefit the way I did from the Drive Alive Program. I hope this initiative spreads across our community, other communities and the state."

If you would like more information about starting this program in your school, please contact Jimmy Twiggs at 912-367-9841, ext. 1260.
 

-Story reprinted with permission from the Baxley News-Banner