In Jessamine County, Kentucky, a group of eighth‑grade students from East Jessamine Middle School stepped out of the classroom to spread traffic‑safety knowledge to younger children at Red Oak Elementary School. The outreach, timed for National Seat Belt Day, was organized through Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), giving the middle‑schoolers a chance to serve as prevention leaders in their community.
Peer‑to‑peer education in action
Teacher Samantha Jones led the team of students, who demonstrated the proper use of seat belts, booster seats and safe behavior inside a vehicle. “It’s a learning opportunity for them and also for us,” said Christian O’Banian, a participant. Another student, Anna Gray, noted that hearing the message from peers can make a difference because it comes from someone closer to their age.
Key safety messages
Students emphasized three core points: always wear a seat belt, avoid distractions while driving, and know when a child is ready to move out of a booster seat. Kentucky SADD coordinator Carol Lucio explained that height matters for proper seat‑belt fit, stating that a child who is 4‑foot‑9 or taller can graduate from a booster, while anyone shorter should remain in one in the back seat.
Red Oak Elementary pupils also learned about their role as passengers, with one summarizing a vital lesson: “Don’t distract the driver while they’re driving.”
Why the message matters
East Jessamine student Cole Wiley underscored the life‑saving importance of buckling up, acknowledging that some teens worry about how seat belts look. “A lot of people think seat belts look lame, but I’d rather be lame than dead,” he said.
Lucio highlighted Kentucky’s ongoing challenge with teen traffic fatalities. In 2025, 14 teenagers aged 16‑17 died on state roadways, and 12 of those were not wearing seat belts. Kentucky currently ranks among the worst states for teen traffic deaths, making peer‑to‑peer education a critical component of SADD’s approach.
Community impact
By turning classroom lessons into real‑world conversations, the East Jessamine students aim to equip the next generation with the knowledge to make safe decisions every time they travel in a vehicle. The program reflects a broader effort to involve young people in public‑safety initiatives, reinforcing the role of families and faith‑based communities in protecting children.
Original reporting: LEX18 Lexington (local) — read the source article.
