PECI students pledge to ‘Be Sharp Behind the Wheel’

tudents’ Council representatives pose with PECI’s new principal Earle Wright, and Cst. Pat Menard with the ‘Be Sharp Behind the Wheel’ banner now hanging in the school foyer. Students’ Council representatives include co-presidents Amanda Johnson and Jackson DeBoef, with teacher advisor Jordan Sacrey and at front, Riley Rogers, Terra Cobb, Hailey Quaiff, Alanna Wolfe, Zoe Law, Tali Wilkinson, Sarah Johnson and Maddie Coulton. – Sue Capon photo

Prince Edward Collegiate Institute students were proud to ‘take the wheel’ to promote safe driving.

Students were asked to sign a banner presented by Prince Edward OPP Constable Pat Menard in December pledging to ‘Be Sharp Behind the Wheel’.

Menard received the banner from the Quinte Region Traffic Coalition, whose goal is to reduce the number of incidents resulting in death and injury on roads, trails and waterways in Hastings and Prince Edward counties.

“I think it worked,” Menard told PECI Students’ Council reps. “We did 130 RIDE checks over the holidays with zero impaired driving charges. We ran the numbers back to 2003 and that’s the first time we had the month of December at zero.

“Every little reminder helps, whether you’re a driver, or a passenger.”

Students’ Council co-president Amanda Johnson agrees.

“We went around to all the classes Grades 9 to 12, and also had safety announcements the week leading up to that with reminders of all the different aspects of safety – for driving, for passengers, impaired driving and texting and driving and we reiterated that when we went to the classes and asked people to sign the poster,” she said. “I’m glad to hear it helped.”