OFHS Repeats as Safe Driving Campaign Champs

For the third year in a row, nailed the Operation Teen Safe Driving program, taking first place in Region 1 of the program. The program is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Ford Motor Company Fund, the Allstate Foundation, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and the Illinois State Police (ISP).

"Illinois is a national leader in teen safety," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider in a press release. "The innovation, dedication and collaborative efforts of IDOT and partners in successful programs like OTSD have significantly impacted and improved roadway safety across the state. The peer-led program creates student ownership and allows participants to analyze traffic safety issues, utilize problem solving skills, generate and implement creative solutions directly within their community."

The school finished in first place in Region 1 of the contest, earning a $2,500 prize that will be used for a post-prom breakfast at the school.

"The kids can come in between 8 and 9 o'clock, generally they come in before they hit the road for Great America or whatever activities they're doing that weekend after prom," said Dan Dunne, assistant principal at OFHS. "They come up here and have a causal breakfast, we have some music playing, we have a senior slide show that is put together by some of the senior class officers. It's just a casual event."

This year, students led the Bengals' charge to the top through a program focused on not texting while driving, not driving while impaired and wearing seat belts, Dunne said. Student organizers handed out pens and pencils, water bottles and other items emblazoned with slogans to remind students to keep safe while driving.

The school also had posters and signs hung in the hallways and on school grounds to hammer home the message, along with various other things.

"We had the Cook County Sheriff out, having the state police out, we had a demonstration at a basketball game, we did a number of different things," Dunne said.

Dunn said that students once again took the reins with the program and that he was proud of all those involved for their hard work. He added that the win was more than just about continuing the school's streak of wins.

"If it helps some of our kids out, it's the old cliché of if it helps somebody it's good," Dunne said. "I think that's true, especially with distracted driving. That's definitely problematic across all age levels."