Students Learn Car Loans, Distracted & Impaired Driving, & More At ECHS's 16th Birthday Bash

Morgan Esters, story and photos:
Today, the Youth Services Center sponsored their Annual “16th Birthday Bash” at Edmonson County High School for 10th graders. The students participated in 4 Informative sessions and a presentation put on by the Kentucky State Police. This program is designed to teach our soon-to- be drivers about distracted driving, seat belt safety, the process of buying a car, and safe driving skills.

The sessions included “Who Wants to Be a Driver?!,” led by Community Education Director, Lisa Whobrey  and State Farm Agents Josh Roney and Cory Culbreth.  They discussed the dangers of texting and driving with an eye-opening video and a game quizzing the students on driving test questions. 

Troopers Jeremy Hodges and Chris Newkirk from the Kentucky State Police brought the KSP rollover simulator and helped to demonstrate the importance of wearing seat belts.

A student tries to drive a golf cart wearing goggles that simulate impairment.

Trooper Chris Newkirk discusses the rollover simulator.

​​County Clerk Kevin Alexander outlined the things involved in purchasing a car (from getting a loan to the registration process).

The most popular session is the one in which students were allowed to drive golf carts through a short obstacle course while wearing goggles that simulate impairment.   After this “drive” with School Resource Officer Jeff Brooks, EMS Director Keith Sanders, and our District Contact Jamie Carnes, Deputy Wally Ritter gave students field sobriety tests while they were still “impaired” with the goggles.  The program ended with a video presentation of “How to Save a Life” (provided by the Kentucky State Police) and a giveaway of four - $25.00 Wal-Mart gift cards.

Josh Roney and Corey Culbreth from State Farm speak with students.

County Clerk Kevin Alexander talks about car loans and vehicle registrations.

We would like to thank all of our volunteers and community partners for making this event possible, including:

• State Farm
• Edmonson County Sheriff’s Department
• Edmonson County Ambulance Service
• Kentucky State Police
• Bank of Edmonson County
• Edmonson County Board of Education
• Family Resource Centers
• Community Education
• Edmonson County Clerk