Broken Bow, OK – March 13, 2025 – Students at Broken Bow High School are taking action to improve teen driver safety through their FCCLA project, “Road Sense: A Guide to Traffic Safety.” As part of their community-focused initiative, students conducted observational surveys over two days to collect real-world data on seatbelt use and driver distractions.
The goal of the project is to raise awareness about the risks of distracted driving, the importance of seatbelt use, and the overall safety habits of both drivers and passengers in our local community.
Day 1 Results (March 12):
• 99 drivers were belted; 14 were not.
• 75 passengers were belted; 9 were not.
• 2 drivers were observed using a phone; 8 were texting while driving.
• 1 driver was distracted in other ways.
• 104 drivers showed no signs of distraction.
Day 2 Results (March 13):
• 56 drivers were belted; 28 were not.
• 37 passengers were belted; 24 were not.
• No drivers were seen using a phone; 2 were texting.
• 1 driver was otherwise distracted.
• 81 drivers were not distracted.
Summary:
• Overall seatbelt use rate: 78.07%
• Driver distraction rate: 0.16%
These observations highlight the importance of continued education and awareness about safe driving behaviors. The “Road Sense” team is using this data to inform presentations, create awareness campaigns, and encourage student pledges to drive safely.
“Our goal is not just to collect numbers,” said project leader Grace Porter, “but to start conversations that save lives. Through education, peer engagement, and partnerships with community safety programs, we are promoting lifelong safe driving habits.”
The Broken Bow FCCLA chapter will continue sharing results and safety tips through school assemblies, social media outreach using the hashtag #DrivingSafeMatters, and collaboration with local organizations like SAFE (Seatbelts Are For Everyone) and Oklahoma Challenge.
Two additional students from Broken Bow High School will also represent the school at State STAR Events in Stillwater, OK. Journey Cole will compete in Sustainability Challenge with her project titled "The Overflow Project," and Kaitlyn O'Neill will showcase her "Phonemic Awareness" project in the Teaching Strategies category.
Contact:
Rusty Stafford
Broken Bow High School FCCLA