In an effort to involve Georgia students in reducing injury and death to young drivers, the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) has awarded a highway safety grant of $2,000 to Bainbridge High School in Bainbridge, Ga., to enhance an existing SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Chapter. BHS SADD is in its third year and continues to grow in membership. Among last year’s SADD graduates was Allyson Lumpkin, who was chosen to be a part of SADD National. BHS SADD is emerging as one of the most active SADD chapters in Georgia. GOHS believes that student input into the solution will help alleviate the problem of teen driver fatalities in Georgia.

According the GOHS Director Robert F. Dallas, “Our state’s teen drivers represent a disproportionate number of drivers involved in crashes that involve injuries and deaths on Georgia’s roadways. We look forward to our SADD Chapters working with their peers to change the perception that crashes are accidents, which can’t be prevented. They can. Our hope is to have every high school student graduate without being involved in a crash or any student being injured or killed in a car crash.”

By having a comprehensive effort statewide, GOHS/SADD plans to cover teen driving issues including safety belt use, speed, inexperience, and impaired driving in a coordinated manner. Participating schools will focus on a variety of highway safety issues throughout the school year.

The Bainbridge High School GOHS/SADD chapter sponsors Red Ribbon Week in October, conducts random seat belt checks on campus, and participates with Decatur County Sheriff’s Department in roadblocks several times throughout the year.

BHS SADD club also brings in speakers with an anti-alcohol and anti-drug message and displays wrecked cars during the prom and graduation season.

Any student interested in SADD can join. The only requirement for participation is club dues and they should see Mrs. Taylor or Mrs. Savage at Bainbridge High School, 248-2230. SADD considers itself to be a “inclusive” not “exclusive” student organization.