Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-Youth Education Section
Support Services Bureau
-Grants Administration

State Farm Insurance – Youth Advisory Board

Program developed in partnership with:

Countryside High School (Students) – Center for New Media – Production of Video

COPART – Crash Vehicle Donation

Curlew Hills Memory Garden - Video Location/Props

Pinellas County Public Works – Transportation – Traffic Props

Florida SADD – Pinellas High School Chapters – Student Advocates

What:
The Sheriff’s Office is officially launching the Targeted Response Against Distracted Driving (TRADD) program. TRADD is a new youth program focused on the dangers and reality of distracted driving. The program engages students via a presentation/video and PSA, and practical exercises. TRADD was developed in partnership with the State Farm Youth Advisory Board. The Sheriff's Office received $47,960 from State Farm for equipment to facilitate the program. For further emphasis, the program is being launched in April, which is Distracted Driving Awareness month.

When:
TRADD will be officially launched at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, April 15, 2016.

Where:
TRADD will be officially launched at Dunedin High School located at 1651 Pinehurst Road in Dunedin.

Why/How:
In an effort to raise awareness regarding the problem of distracted driving among youth and adults, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the State Farm Youth Advisory Board – is launching the Targeted Response against Distracted Driving (TRADD) program.

TRADD was created and designed to bring awareness to distracted driving with secondary awareness to distractions to bicyclists and pedestrians in general.

The target audience is youth and/or adults 15 years of age and up.

The program has two components.

Part 1: The Presentation, immerses students in a multi-media experience as if they were in attendance at a funeral for a distracted driver. A video presentation, PSA, a uniformed deputy presentation, and various props accomplish this component.

Part 2: The Practical Lab, allows students to experience first-hand the impact of distractions on drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. There are three exercises:

Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) Exercise - A licensed student must navigate a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) through a course while facing multiple distractions such as texting, a radio playing, and as objects such as balls and remote control cars appear in the roadway.

Pedal Carts with Impairment Goggles Exercise – Students will be tasked with navigating pedal carts through a course as they wear goggles simulating various levels of impairment such as intoxication, drowsiness and “buzzed” driving. This exercise shows the effects of being distracted by fatigue or substance abuse and the operators slowed response when distracted.

Straight Line Walk and Turn Exercise – Students will take turns walking a straight line and turning while wearing impairment goggles and being distracted by being asked to respond to questions aloud.

It is the Sheriff’s Office goal that the program will encourage students to think twice before letting anything come between them and their destination, and remind students of the slogan: "Just drive, the rest can wait."

Media is invited to cover the launch of the program and to participate in the exercises.

For any additional questions or information, please contact the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Public Information Office at 727-582-6221.