Waco teens use SAVE to save lives

Students from local high schools in Waco, Texas are trying to make a difference in the way their peers drive. The National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) held a teen driving summit on Jan. 27 to bring the safe-driving message to area high schools.

Seven high schools (China Springs High School, Harker Heights High School, Marlin High School, Rapaport Academy High School, Robert M. Shoemaker High School, West High School and University High School) each brought ten students to attend the summit.

Students had the opportunity to interact with teens from the surrounding schools, meet members of the SAVE youth advisory board, and participate in activities geared toward increasing their awareness on the risks associated with teen driving. The purpose of the summit was to empower students to be positive role models by educating them on teen driving statistics and trends.

Dr. Pam Riley, executive director of the SAVE foundation said, “SAVE has four main goals—engage, empower, encourage and educate.” The organization has grown from only having one chapter in North Carolina, to being in 46 states across the U.S. and having 1,700 chapters nationwide.

Most recently, SAVE’s focus has shifted to issues related to teen driving. Their next summit with be March 3, in Brownsville, Texas.

With the help of organizations like SAVE and peer-led programs like Teens in the Driver Seat, teens can be more aware of the dangers they face when they get behind the wheel.