A program in Jefferson City hopes to encourage high school students to talk up traffic safety when they return to the classroom in a few weeks.
Several high school students from throughout the state have left Jefferson City after going through a three-day Team Spirit Leadership Training Conference sponsored by the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Division. MODOT says the program "challenges students to explore knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to driving habits among their peers".
Laura Holloway with MODOT says the program has proven effective, because of its peer-to-peer approach. Students who have been through the program actually drive the conference, which includes leadership and team building exercises, motivational workshops and prevention programs. Team Spirit youth also create an action plan to improve traffic safety in their home towns and are expected to take an active role in promoting traffic safety.