A press release and photos from the Huntley School District 158:
‘Distracted Driving’ Topic of Presentation in District 158 Schools
Hannah Smith talked on distracted drivings.
ALGONQUIN, IL – It’s not every day that a high school graduate returns to their alma mater to make a presentation before the entire student body, but that’s exactly what Huntley High School 2009 graduate Hannah Smith did.
You see, Hannah is not just any ordinary graduate; she is the current Miss Illinois.
As part of her duties as the reigning Miss Illinois, Hannah will make more than 300 appearances throughout the state to promote the Character Counts program to students as well as State Farm’s distracted driving program.
Stops in her hometown to speak about distracted driving included
- Huntley High School,
- Heineman Middle School, and
- Marlowe Middle School.
Miss Illinois posed for this photo at her Heineman Middle School assembly.
Smith’s presentation included alarming statistics – distracted driving kills 7,000 teens every year, causes more than 500,000 injuries, and is the number one fatality to teens; examples of distracted driving –
- texting,
- talking on the phone,
- changing the dial on the radio, and
- eating; and her personal experience as a new driver –
- turning the music in her car up so loud she could not hear emergency vehicle sirens.
Smith told students that incident was her wake-up call and vowed to keep the music turned down at all times in her vehicle or while a passenger in other vehicles.
Although middle schoolers are not yet old enough to drive, she encouraged students to share the lessons learned with older siblings, parents, and others. Smith also stressed the importance of the need for all drivers to FOCUS: For Our Community’s Ultimate Safety.
Smith summed up her presentation by telling students:
“Remember, distracted driving is not an accident. It’s your choice!”
For more information or to schedule an appearance/presentation on distracted driving by Miss Illinois, Hannah Smith, contact the Miss Illinois Scholarship Association, Inc. at (618) 218-2391 or via email at appearance@missillinois.org.
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Click to enlarge either photo.