Air Force JROTC group makes visit to Jefferson City

The AFJROTC Team Spirit Club of Farmington High School attended “Team Spirit Reunion 2012” last week. This conference is sponsored annually by MODOT Traffic Safety Division and the Cape Girardeau Safe Communities Division of the Cape Girardeau Police Department  The theme this year was “Distracted Driving”.

The fastest growing cause of accidents in the U.S. today is due to distracted driving. Experts say texting, eating, putting on makeup, reading, fiddling with electronics and other similar activities are responsible for many of the traffic accidents in the U.S. and is growing at an alarming rate.  Students were trained on how to get the word out and influence their peers to be aware of the distance your car travels when you are not paying attention to what you are doing.

There are several You Tube videos — some real and some simulations — depicting the issue.  There are also cell phone apps to block the phone while driving to make sure that texting and driving is not an issue.  

 Missouri 3rd District Senator Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, halted legislation on the Senate floor to introduce the AFJROTC students and inform the state Senate of the mission of the club and the danger of distracted driving.

Students attending this two day conference were Tyler Moore, Ashley Gainer, Alyssa Hickey, Loralee Bader, Kyle Gartner, Sarah King, Allison Sedgwick, Avery Rowland and Madison Weedman.