April 4, 2008

A program developed in Florida that's designed to help students make smart choices on the road made it's way to the Valley Thursday night to deliver a very powerful message.

The Street Smart program held a presentation at Blue Ridge Community College, and it had students on the edge of their seats. It was not your average lecture about drinking and driving or not using your seat belt.

"Buckle up. That's our number one message. To take those two seconds to grab that seat belt no matter where you're sitting in the vehicle, and putting it on, because those two seconds can save live," says Ronnie Garcia, a presenter of the Street Smart program.

The program uses some very graphic pictures of accidents, which make is very effective. Dan Zurndorfer, a BRCC student who says he doesn't wear his seat belt when he's going on short trips, volunteered for a demonstration, in which he lay on a stretcher with tubes hanging from his body. He says it was enough to change his mind.

He says, "It was pretty crazy. I'm actually scared to drive home right now in the rain. It just really made me think a lot especially when they were talking about my parents getting the knock at the door, and stuff like that."

The presenters say that everyone in the car should be buckled up. If you have objects like a book bag in your car, keep them buckled up as well or place them in the trunk. They also say never get behind the wheel if you are impaired in anyway.

"It's an eye opening experience. I'm definitely going to try and buckle up every time," says Zurndorger.

The presenters say you are 25 times more likely to be thrown from your car if you're in a accident and you are not wearing a seat belt. The Street Smart presentation will be shown again on Friday at Fort Defiance High School at 11:15 a.m., and then at Fishburne Military Academy at 2 p.m.

Reporter: Mary Pulley
WHSV - Harrisonburg, Virginia