Video: MDOT Brings Safe Driving Demonstration To Guntown Middle School

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GUNTOWN, Miss. (WCBI) — According to Triple A, 58 percent of car wrecks involving teenagers can be traced to distracted driving.

That is one reason why a middle school in our area hosted a demonstration by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

It’s part of an ongoing effort to instill safe driving practices in young people, before they get behind the wheel.

It is Science Day at Guntown Middle School, and students are learning about Newton’s Law of Motion.

The Seat Belt Convincer is part of MDOT’s mobile classroom on safe driving, demonstrating the importance of buckling up.

Students also see what tools MDOT Law Enforcement officers use to keep the highways safe.

“We brought our C Vision Van, it is infra red technology, it takes pictures of trucks going down the road and lets us know if they have any violations
such as brake violations,” said MDOT Capt. David Gist.

Middle Schoolers also were able to navigate obstacles and games of skill with goggles that simulate impaired driving.

In just a few years, most of these students will be getting their drivers licenses. Until then, law enforcement personnel and their teachers want them to think about safe driving, everytime they get in a vehicle.

“They’re going to remember the Convincer, and how at 5 miles an hour what an impact that made, so if they’re going faster it will be more of an impact to hurt them,” said Teacher Connie Gusmus.

“It shakes you up, you sit in it, and just go down, then hit a bump and it gets you kind of shaky,” said Student Madison Hall.

“I’ve learned not to text and drive, when you’re drinking don’t drive and I would prefer not drinking period,” said Student Braxton Gibbs.

MDOT provides the driver safety education programs free of charge at schools throughout the state.

This week is also National Teen Safe Driving Week.