Hillcrest HS Earns Award in 'Operation Teen Safe Driving' Program

Hillcrest High School students participated in the “Operation Teen Safe Driving” program. The Illinois Department of Transportation, Ford Motor Company Fund, Allstate Foundation, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and Illinois State Police announced the winning schools from each of the seven regions of the 2014-15 Operation Teen Safe Driving (OTSD) program. Hillcrest students earned a prestigious “second place” and will receive a $2,000 award and the opportunity for students to attend the 2015 Ford Driving Skills Challenge.

OTSD expanded to a statewide program in 2008. Since the onset of the program, the teen fatalities have dropped by 54.2% percent. The program lets teens create their own safe driving campaigns and share them with their peers, in an effort to promote safe driving habits among a traditionally high-risk age group. According to a study released by the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety, distracted driving is a factor in nearly 6 out of every 10 moderate-to-severe teen crashes.

A total of 102 schools completed this year’s OTSD program, modeled after the Ford Motor Company Fund’s nationally recognized Ford Driving Skills for Life teen safety program.

Hillcrest High School Assistant Principal Mr. Terrence Simmons, and Hillcrest Physical Education teacher Mr. Paul Skach, took upper classman to drive actual Ford cars and learn first-hand about the danger of texting and driving.

“This was a great event and our goal is to win first place next year,” stated Mr. Simmons.

To find out more about Operation Teen Safe Driving contact Mr. Simmons at tsimmons@bhsd228.com.