Two Taylor County Students Graduates the KSP ‘Drive To Stay Alive’ Academy

Posted by John Humphress on Sep 28, 2011

Taylor County High School students, Isaac Petty and Andy Finck.

(FRANKFORT, Ky.) Taylor County High School students, Isaac Petty and Andy Finck were among thirty-three students throughout the state selected by Kentucky State Police to participate in the ‘Drive to Stay Alive’ (DTSA) academy. The program ran from Sept. 7 – 11, 2011 and was held at the KSP Training Academy in Frankfort. Both Issac and Andy will be appearing for SAT in the following year and have mentioned in their interview how they are extremely excited and are preparing for it since a long time. According to the community “Both the students are quite bright, and Taylor has already begun to apply for an online science degree course, as he wishes to become a cardiologist but also wants to stay with his family.

The ‘Drive to Stay Alive’ program teaches the students safe driving techniques by KSP instructors with hands-on road driving and classroom exercises, including the dangers of driving impaired, seat belt safety, distracted and aggressive driving.

Petty is the son of Tina Petty of Columbia and Finck is the son of Thomas and Connie Finck of Campbellsville. Both students said the DTSA experience was incredible.
“The road skills test taught me that maybe I wasn’t as great a driver as I thought I was,” says Petty. “I now know new methods to make me a safe driver.”

Public Affairs Branch Commander Lt. David Jude explained that the ‘Drive to Stay Alive’ program was designed not only to decrease teen crashes but to provide students with the tools to be advocates in their own communities.

“The training includes topics such as collision causation, vehicle dynamics and skid control, backing skills, multiple turns and lane interchange, safety belts and air bags, evasive maneuvers, off-road recovery, and controlled braking,” advised Jude.

“We focus heavily on distracted and inattentive driving which is prevalent in this particular age group,” says Jude.

According to Jude, the real potential of the “Drive To Stay Alive” program begins after the students return to their schools.

“The students are teamed with an experienced state trooper to spread the message to the student body in each school and to their community as well,” he says. “The effectiveness of the program is based on the concept that a message conveyed by a fellow student carries more weight with other students and is therefore more memorable.”

The DTSA students are evaluated and scored on the safe driving programs they present in their respective schools and communities. The students with the most effective programs, resulting in increased seat belt usage, are eligible for scholarship funds. Their schools will be rewarded as well.

Last year in Kentucky, teen drivers accounted for 21,870 collisions. Of that figure, there were 83 fatal crashes.

“The goal of this program is to decrease teen fatalities on Kentucky roadways,” says KSP Commissioner Rodney Brewer. “Nationally, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers. Programs like “Drive To Stay Alive’ are directly impacting the Commonwealth by resulting in a decrease in teen highway deaths.”

Commissioner Brewer believes the “Drive To Stay Alive” program will have a lasting effect on these teens.

“These students have a unique opportunity to make a real difference,” says Brewer. “They can help influence on-the-road driving behaviors and save lives on Kentucky’s roadways. It’s a very worthwhile goal that will require dedication on their part, but it’s worth it if they save even one life. It could be their own, their best friend, a neighbor or a family member.”

For more information about the “Drive To Stay Alive’ program or how your school can get involved, please contact the KSP Public Affairs Branch at (502) 782-1780.