Sachem East Students to Participate in Ford Driving Skills for Life 'Battle of the Belts'

Sachem High School East students will participate in a ‘Battle of the Belts’ competition in recognition of National Teen Driver Safety Week and as part of the Ford Driving Skills for Life program to increase awareness about the importance of seat belt use.

The event, to be held during halftime of Friday’s 7 p.m. East football game against Lindenhurst, is sponsored by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and the Ford Community Foundation.

Suffolk County has one of the lowest seat belt usage rates (87.41 percent) in the state. This event raises awareness of the importance of seat belt use among teen drivers. During the event, up to 250 Sachem East students and event attendees can sign a pledge agreeing to refrain from cell phone use/texting while operating a motor vehicle. In addition to this event, GTSC is sponsoring teen driver survivor advocate presentations in Suffolk County public schools by Marianne Angelillo whose 17-year-old son, Matthew, was killed as a passenger in a 2004 high-speed car crash. Mrs. Angelillo uses Matthew’s life to educate and reach into the hearts of teens about the devastating consequences of risk-taking. Her efforts have been awarded by several N.Y. agencies for their profound statewide impact.