NB Highlights December 2016 | Page 20

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"ThinkFast" Interactive and Highway Safety Assembly

On Tuesday, November 29, North Branch High School held the award winning "ThinkFast Interactive Awareness Assembly" for our juniors and seniors. The event was held in the auditorium and afforded the students the opportunity to participate in this special driving safety program sponsored by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, and the Traffic Improvement Association of Michigan. This program was made available through the generous sponsorship of Nissan North America.

The number one cause of teen fatalities in the US is motor vehicle crashes, and a significant number of fatalities can be prevented by supporting a comprehensive educational driving safety awareness program. The statistics are alarming. According to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, a quarter of teens respond to a text message once or more every time they drive. Twenty percent of teens and 10 percent of parents admit they have extended, multi-messaged text conversations while driving.

ThinkFast Interactive serves as an evidence-informed prevention intervention program. ThinkFast has consistently produced statistically significant and measurable results in improving teen knowledge, attitudes, and behavior intentions towards safe driving. The program integrates age relevant academic, and pop culture trivia about topics including music, TV, movies, art, literature, science, math, geography, history and pop icons, Top 40, ubran, rock or mainstream radio,

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and music videos that challenge participants with related questions. ThinkFast Interactive has proven itself as an effective and relevant way to get teens' attention as it begins to shift group norms where it becomes "cool" to know safety information and further, to actually make choices to promote safety when on the highways. The valuable awareness content also consisted of Michigan rules, regulations, and penalties, and other related safety topics taught using multi-digit wireless remotes in a one hour program.

The students responded extremely well! ThinkFast Interactive was one of the coolest and most effective modes to reach young people in an assembly format that we've ever seen! The kids were totally engaged the entire time due to the talent of the presenters and the upbeat nature of the music and video segments. The components and arrangement of the curriculum were excellent and kept participants on point throughout the entire session. We were truly impressed with the content and the way the messages were conveyed and reinforced. The competition and game show environment kept the kids excited and on task as well, which is VERY unusual for this age group! Teachers and administrators made a point of complimenting the quality of the show.

We are grateful and appreciative to Nissan for such a great program with such an important message!