Cambridge, Alpharetta Students Fighting Against Drunk Driving

Local high schools will benefit from a $45,000 SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) grant to Fulton County Schools from the GA Office of Highway Safety.

Car crashes remain the top cause of death for teens, with drivers ages 15-19 having a high rate of crashes, injuries and fatailities than adult and elderly drivers. Last year crashes took the lives of 156 teen drivers.

The SADD grant will fund activities and programs at 13 high schools, including Alpharetta and Cambridge high schools.

"With Cambridge being a new school, we are excited to begin a SADD Chapter that will impact our community in a positive manner," said Amey Rishel, a school counselor at Cambridge High and faculty sponsor of SADD.  "Cambridge students are dedicated to promoting awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving, texting and driving, underage alcohol consumption, and other destructive decisions they are faced with in today's world."

SADD chapters are designed to address drinking and driving among teens during the 2013-2014 school year through the following activities:

• Establish or maintain a SADD chapter
• Complete a minimum of two safety belt checks
• & The Law: 21 or Bust; SADD & The Law: SADD Mobilizes; Mock Car Crash; Lights On For Life Day; Safe Prom or Safe Graduation activities
• Provide Leadership Training to SADD chapter members
• Support impaired driving prevention activities

"We look forward to hosting activities at Cambridge as well as in our community to show our commitment to preventing teen driving fatalities," Rishel said.

Throughout the rest of the school year, high schools will participate in these programs and encourage healthy and substance-free living prevention and intervention programs. Schools are also encouraged annually to observe:

• Alcohol Education Month (November),
• Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month (December),
• Parenting is Prevention Month (March),
• Alcohol Awareness Month (April), and
• Worldwide “No Tobacco” Day (May 31).   

The 11 other high schools, including five in North Fulton, are: Banneker High School, Centennial High School, Chattahoochee High School, Creekside High School, Johns Creek High School, Langston Hughes High School, North Springs High School, Northview High School, Roswell High School, Tri-Cities High School and Westlake High School.