Participants demonstrate seat belt usage at the Teen Driving Summit.
Participants demonstrate seat belt usage at the Teen Driving Summit.

By Kristin Rover
Sun staff

Teens from six Clermont County schools attended the Teen Driving Summit in Owensville April 25.

The summit was hosted by Ohio State University Extension Clermont County, CARTEENS and Safe Communities and included several speakers, activities, videos, and demonstrations.

At the summit teens heard from police officers, watched emotional videos from individuals who lost loved ones in car crashes, participated in demonstrations, and more.

“It was really informative,” Sydney Gacek, a junior at Clermont Northeastern High School, said about the event. “It showed the consequences of texting and driving, drinking and impaired driving and wearing seat belts.”

Gacek said she thinks it is important that teens understand the responsibilities that come with driving.

“It sinks in when they see people dealing with consequences,” Gacek said.

Zach Whitley, a junior at Goshen High School, said you don’t really think about what could happen until you see examples from when teens drive distracted, don’t wear seat belts, or don’t drive safely.

“It makes more sense now,” Whitley said about the safety messages.

Whitley said he thinks schools should have assemblies for all students to remind them of the dangers of driving.

“Our main goal is we want to get all of these driving messages out to teenagers,” Krista Bradley, office associate for the Clermont County Extension Office, said about the summit.

Bradley, who helped organize the event, said these messages are coming at an important time of year, before prom, summer activities, and many sports events.

Bradley said six students and advisors from Clermont Northeastern, Goshen, New Richmond, Williamsburg, and Batavia high schools were invited to attend the summit.

Speakers at the summit included police officers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Mark Romito with AT&T, officials with CARTEENS and more.

For more information about Safe Communities or CARTEENS, visit http://clermont.osu.edu.