Community invited to participate April 23 to decrease distracted driving

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading killer of children, teens and young adults in the US.  In 2011 there were 5 times more fatalities due to car crashes than there were murders in Platte County.  Platte County High School (PCHS) Interact Club students are working hard to make a positive impact on these statistics and decrease distracted driving in our community. PCHS Interact Club is the local chapter of Rotary International’s service club for young people. PCHS Interact Club is self-governing and co-supported, focusing on Community Service and Community Interactions.  On April 23rd from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Interact Club will be hosting the Arrive Alive - Save More Lives event in the north parking lot of the Platte County High School.  Funding for the event has been provided in part by the Platte County Health Department Maternal Child Health grant.

Students from Platte County and neighboring high schools will attend an assembly from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. featuring a video and speakers from Operation Lifesaver.  Students will be educated on the dangers of distracted driving.

After the assembly, students will head outside where various organizations will be present to provide information including:  Bank of Weston, Kansas City Police Department, Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Platte City Police Department, Platte City Rotary, Platte County Health Department, Platte Valley Bank, PCHS Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), PCHS Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Platte County Prosecutor’s Office, Platte County Sheriff’s Office, Platte Valley Bank, Share the Road, State Farm Insurance, Tri-County Mental Health Services.

To aid in the prevention of distracted and unsafe driving, community members are encouraged to attend and participate in some of the following activities from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.:  Seat belt convincer, tricycles and texting, field sobriety tests, semi-truck share the road, rollover simulator and impaired gogglesThe Sheriff’s Office will provide information on the proper installation of child safety seats. Local agencies and businesses will have prizes and giveaways for those in attendance.

The Interact Club has invited the Funnel Cake Truck to be part of the event for attendees to purchase funnel cakes.  The PTSA will provide a food and drink stand with all of these proceeds going to fund the After Prom event for Platte County High School.  All members of the community are welcome, and volunteers are needed to help make the event a success.  Please contact Shari Waters at waters@platteco.k12.mo.us  for any questions, and feel free to visit the event website for more information:  http://www.interact-club.org/Home/index.php/arrive-alive.