Media

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Shelby County Schools To Conduct Prom and Traffic Safety Programs For Students

Release Date: April 19, 2004

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the Shelby County Schools are partnering to help prevent vehicle accidents during the high school prom season.

“We’ve lost eight teenagers in the last few months as a result of speeding. Our Crime Prevention and Traffic officers will be visiting the Shelby County Schools with a strong message to the students,” said Shelby County Sheriff Mark H. Luttrell, Jr.

Deputies will offer two programs. One will focus on the dangers of high speed driving and driving regulations. Both drivers involved in the deadly traffic crashes recently had either no license or were in violation of the license restrictions.

Besides the class about high speed driving, officers will be providing a class about the dangers of impaired driving. Those classes have been targeted to coincide with the prom season for many Shelby County schools.

“We had no students killed or seriously injured during the prom season last year. It is our goal for students to have a safe prom season this year. We’re pleased to work in partnership with Sheriff Luttrell as we raise students’ awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and speeding,” said Dr. Bobby Webb, Superintendent of Shelby County Schools.

Here is the schedule for the safety classes:

OPERATION SAFE PROM

• Wednesday - April 21, 2004 - 7:30 a.m. - Bartlett High School, 5688 Woodlawn. Officers will be giving a classroom presentation on the dangers of impaired driving.

• Thursday - April 22, 2004 - 7:30 a.m. - Session Two - Bartlett High School, 5688 Woodlawn. Officers will conduct a hand’s-on demonstration that simulates impaired driving. Students will be driving golf carts through an obstacle course.

DANGERS OF HIGH SPEED DRIVING

• Tuesday - April 27, 2004- 8:00 a.m. – Collierville High School, 1101 North Byhalia Road in Collierville .

• Wednesday - April 28, 2004 - 8:00 a.m. (same class) Collierville High School, 1101 North Byhalia Road in Collierville.

Officers will conduct other classes at Shelby County Schools as they are scheduled.

The Shelby County Schools Communications division has approved for media representatives to be on campus at both Bartlett and Collierville High Schools regarding the events mentioned in this news release.

If you are interested in covering the activities at Bartlett High School, please contact Mr. Mike Parnell, Principal of Bartlett High School, at 373-2620.

If you plan to attend the Collierville High School events, please contact Dr. Tim Setterlund, Principal of Collierville High School, at 853-3310.