Centennial High School's 'You Are Responsible' Driving Event Moved Audiences

Young drivers who want to park at Howard County high schools must promise in writing to be responsible on the road, and that means no drinking, no speeding and no texting. 

The county's "You Are Responsible" program features events at each school that include the showing of a film demonstrating what can happen when new drivers fail to follow driving rules.

"I thought it was a little scary," said Centennial High School student Kelsey Gibbons at the school's recent evening program. "The video kind of freaked me out but I learned how to be careful." 

Her father, Pat Gibbons, said, "I thought it was very sobering, and made a large impact. I'm very glad I came."

Parents and students were given a parking permit form to fill out as well as a parent-teen agreement that included a promise to be a responsible driver.

Assistant Principal Pamela West said parents appreciated the program.

"The parents and students complain about coming to the event, but after each presentation every parent was grateful and we got a lot of comments," she said.

The presentation included opening remarks from local police officers, as well as the 37-minute video, which gave the latest traffic statistics.

Traffic incidents are the leading cause of death for people 15-20 years of age, according to the film, while alcohol, speeding and lack of seatbelts account for 75 percent of driving accidents by young drivers.

Young drivers using alcohol while driving can have their license suspended or revoked, with a fine and a possibility of spending a year in a county detention center.

Texting can be even more dangerous than driving under the influence, according to the film. Adding one passenger to a young driver's vehicle can increase the risk of an accident by 40 percent, and three passengers can make a trip 120 percent more risky.

The film showed a car full of young females with the driver texting and playing with her phone while driving, ultimately leading to three of the girls' deaths.

The presentation encouraged parents to set a good example for their children and set rules for driving. Parents were advised to monitor driving, set limits, ride with young drivers to new destinations and pointing out points of difficulty. Parents were also advised to limit the number of people in their children's car, and reinforce the cell phone ban law.

But there was also a lighter side to the program -- the unveiling of the program's mascot, a friendly car named Sheldon. If students sign up for the program, put a magnet with Sheldon's image on their car and drive courteously, they can receive rewards such as gas cards and other prizes.

The  school with the most courteous drivers wins a celebration at the end of the year and the "Sheldon Award."

The parking permit requires a $15 fee.