Liberty High School in Bedford County is Virginia’s high school division winner of the 2019 “Arrive Alive” teen safe driving campaign sponsored by Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO), the Virginia State Police (VSP), and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Highway Safety Office in partnership with State Farm Insurance and Allstate. Heritage High School in Newport News placed second and Louisa County High School placed third in the statewide competition.
Middle school winners of the “Arrive Alive” campaign are Walker-Grant Middle School in Fredericksburg, first place; Stone Hill Middle School in Loudoun County, second place; and Smyth County’s Marion Middle School, third place.
More than 65 high and middle schools across the Commonwealth participated in the annual Arrive Alive campaign that ran from March 18, 2019 to May 3, 2019. The high school campaign focused on reducing risks and preventing teen driver-related crashes during the high-risk warm weather months and during prom and graduation celebrations. The middle school campaign addressed passenger, pedestrian and bike safety, as well as establishing safe driving attitudes and behaviors prior to the driving years.
“Arrive Alive provides a unique opportunity for youth and teens to take the lead in making sure their friends and peers always arrive home safely,” said Casey Taylor, YOVASO Program Development Coordinator. “Students across the state worked hard during this year’s campaign to promote safe driving and passenger safety through any array of innovative programs and exciting activities!”
As the statewide high school winner, Liberty High School will receive a check for $500. Heritage will receive $250 and Louisa will receive $150. Walker-Grant Middle School will receive $500, Stone Hill will receive $250, and Marion will receive $150. All schools will receive a congratulations banner.
In an effort to reach even more Virginia youth and teens during the summer months, competing schools will continue promoting safe driving and passenger safety at community events, through social media, public service announcements (PSA), and by hosting “Safe Drive Sundae’s” at local ice cream shops.
For more information on the “Arrive Alive” campaign or the YOVASO Program, call Mary King, Program Administrator, or Casey Taylor, Program Development Coordinator, at 540-739-4392 or visit the website at yovaso.org. YOVASO is Virginia’s Peer-to-Peer Education and Prevention Program for Teen Driver and Passenger Safety and is a program of the Virginia State Police. Membership in YOVASO is free and open to all Virginia high schools, middle schools, and youth groups. YOVASO currently has 106 active member schools.
Schools Participating in the 2019 YOVASO Arrive Alive Campaign:
High Schools:
Alleghany High School, Alleghany Co.
Amherst County High School, Amherst Co.
Appomattox County High School, Appomattox Co.
Auburn High School, Montgomery Co.
Bluestone High School, Mecklenburg Co.
Brooke Point High School, Stafford Co.
*Chatham High School, Pittsylvania Co.
Chilhowie High School, Smyth Co.
Christiansburg High School, Montgomery Co.
Colonial Forge High School, Stafford Co.
*Council High School, Buchanan Co.
*Craig County High School, Craig Co.
*Dinwiddie High School, Dinwiddie Co.
Eastern Montgomery High School, Montgomery Co.
Floyd County High School, Floyd Co.
Fluvanna County High School, Fluvanna Co.
Galileo Magnet High School, Danville City
George Wythe High School, Richmond City
*Grundy High School, Buchanan Co.
Halifax County High School, Halifax Co.
Heritage High School, Lynchburg City
*Heritage High School, Newport News City
Hidden Valley High School, Roanoke Co.
James River High School, Botetourt Co.
Jefferson Forest High School, Bedford Co.
Liberty High School, Bedford Co.
Lord Botetourt High School, Botetourt Co.
Louisa County High School, Louisa Co.
Luray High School, Page Co.
Magna Vista High School, Henry Co.
Manchester High School, Chesterfield Co.
Marion High School, Smyth Co.
Monacan High School, Chesterfield Co.
Mountain View High School, Stafford Co.
Narrows High School, Giles Co.
North Stafford High School, Stafford Co.
Page County High School, Page Co.
Patrick Henry High School, Roanoke City
Poquoson High School, Poquoson City
Powhatan High School, Powhatan Co.
Randolph-Henry High School, Charlotte Co.
*Roanoke Catholic School, Roanoke City
*Rustburg High School, Campbell Co.
*Salem High School, Salem City
Stafford High School, Stafford Co.
Staunton River High School, Bedford Co.
Stuarts Draft High School, Augusta Co.
William Byrd High School, Roanoke Co.
Woodrow Wilson High School, Portsmouth City
*Woodside High School, Newport News City
Middle Schools:
Auburn Middle School, Montgomery Co.
Central Academy Middle School, Botetourt Co.
*Craig County Middle School, Craig Co.
Forest Middle School, Bedford Co.
*Grayson Highlands School, Grayson Co.
Hidden Valley Middle School, Roanoke Co.
Louisa County Middle School, Louisa Co.
Marion Middle School, Smyth Co.
Page County Middle School, Page Co.
Shawsville Middle School, Montgomery Co.
Shirley Heim Middle School, Stafford Co.
Stone Hill Middle School, Loudon Co.
Walker-Grant Middle School, Fredericksburg City
Other Organizations:
Bristol’s Promise, Washington Co.
REACH Homeschool, Various Counties in VA
| *Non-member schools/groups participating |
Tips for Parents of Teen Drivers:
- Lead by example. Your teens will mimic your driving behaviors.
- Discuss your teen’s responsibilities when driving a car or riding as a passenger.
- Review the teen driving laws and set consequences for breaking the laws. For laws, visit: http://www.dmvnow.com/webdoc/pdf/dmv16.pdf
- Extend the period of supervised driving to closely monitor skills/behaviors.
- Give your teen practice driving on unfamiliar roads and driving conditions.
- Coach your teen on what to do in potentially dangerous driving situations like poor weather conditions, rough roads, heavy traffic, and running off the road.
- Enforce the teen passenger restrictions and the teen curfew law.
- Reduce nighttime driving for the first few months your teen has a license.
- Be sure your teen is well rested before hitting the road.
- Ask your teen questions and be ready to listen
- Once you’ve had a conversation with your teen, create your own Parent-Teen Driving Contract detailing rules and consequences and have your teen sign it. You can also print off a sample contract from our website at: www.yovaso.org/parent-information/
