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:

COPART – Crash Vehicle Donation

Pinellas County Public Works – Transportation – Traffic Props

Florida SADD – Pinellas High School Chapters – Student Advocates

What:
The Sheriff’s Office will highlight the Targeted Response Against Distracted Driving (TRADD) program for the third year, to help bring awareness during the month of April, which is Distracted Driving Awareness month. TRADD is a 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 funds from State Farm for equipment to facilitate the program. 

When:
The TRADD program will begin at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

Where:
The TRADD program will be held at Seminole High School located at 8401 131^st Street, in Seminole.

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 highlighting the Targeted Response against Distracted Driving (TRADD) program on Wednesday April 18, 2018, at Seminole High School.

TRADD was created and designed to bring awareness to distracted driving with secondary awareness to distractions to bicyclists and pedestrians in general. This is an ongoing program offered throughout the school year to high school students county-wide.

The target audience is teen drivers 15 years of age and up.

The program has two components:

Part 1: The Presentation, includes a video presentation, PSA, a uniformed deputy presentation, and various props to accomplish this component.

Part 2: The Practical Exercise, 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 pedestrians 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 being asked to respond to questions aloud.  This exercise demonstrates the difficulty created when pedestrians are distracted while simultaneously completing a physical task and a mental task.

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 program and participate in the exercises.

For additional questions or information, please contact the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Public Information Office at 727-582-6221 or Corporal Jessica Mackesy at jmackesy@pcsonet.com .