Save Lives. Don’t Text and Drive – Public Safety Announcement (PSA)

In August of 2016, the Lacey Township Task Force (including but not limited to members of the Lacey Township Police Department, Lacey Township Municipal Alliance, Lacey Township Board of Education, Lacey Township Recreation Department, Residents, and Religious and Business Organizations) had a meeting to discuss several topics that are affecting our community, including but not limited to Driving While Intoxicated, Distracted Driving, and Heroin Overdoses. During this meeting, the idea of presenting Public Safety Announcements (PSAs) to our community, including our schools, was discussed. The first PSA chosen was on the Heroin Epidemic and was titled Heroin Destroys Happiness.  On March 10, 2017, “Red Night Out” was presented at the Lacey Township High School. During Red Night Out, Chief Michael C. DiBella presented the Public Safety Announcement titled “Heroin Destroys Happiness” which was completed by students and staff from the Lacey Township High School Telecommunications class, Lacey Township Middle School Staff, the Lacey Township Police Department and the Lacey Township Emergency Services.

(Please see the below link for the PSA “Heroin Destroys Happiness”)

Almost immediately after completing the Heroin PSA, the Lacey Township High School Telecommunications class, in partnership with the Lacey Township Police Department, began filming  their second PSA on Drinking and Driving (Underage Drinking). This PSA was titled “Drinking Destroys Dreams.”  On June 1st, 2017, just prior to the Lacey Township High School Project Crash Event, the “Drinking Destroys Dreams” PSA was shown for the first time to approximately 275 graduating Lacey Township High School Seniors in the auditorium (The Lacey Township High School Prom was taking place the following evening, June 2, 2017).  What was unique about this particular PSA, is it showed what occurs when a young adult makes a good decision and what happens when a young adult makes a bad decision, both in the same scenario. During this PSA, you see both sides of what happens when a young lady getting ready for the High School Prom decides to consume an alcoholic beverage prior to driving and meeting her friends. You also see what happens when she decides not to consume the alcoholic beverage.

(Please see the below link for the PSA “Drinking Destroys Dreams”).

In September 2017, the Lacey Township High School  Telecommunications class, in partnership with the Lacey Township Police Department and the Lanoka Harbor EMS, began working on their third PSA, on Distracted Driving. On Wednesday, October 25, 2017, the third PSA, titled “Save Lives. Don’t Text and Drive” was completed. This PSA has a Halloween theme and shows what can happen when someone decides to text and drive.  Statistics indicate that in 2015, 391,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted driving and another 3,477 people were killed across the United States.  Distracted Driving Enforcement and Education remains a priority of the Lacey Township Police Department.

I would like to thank Television Production Teacher Jeremy Muerman and all of the students from the Lacey Township High School Telecommunications Class who are responsible for producing the “Save Lives. Don’t Text and Drive” PSA, including but not limited to:

  1. Jessica Schlagenhaft (Director)
  2. Zachary Ramos (Writer)
  3. Trevor Stankiewitch (Camera Operator)
  4. Daria Saxton (Assistant Director)
  5. Christopher Brandsema (Editor)

In addition, I would like to thank all of the PSA participants listed in the credits, along with Lacey Police Officer Noah Schaffer, and Lanoka Harbor EMS members Christine Bender, SueAnn Pedre, Jacqueline Sharkey, Jordan Rensel and Dylan Reilly.

(Please see the below link for the PSA “Save Lives. Don’t Text and Drive”).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eLPOkKYvf0

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-Eve8i5R1s

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVvBjdWD8Qs

 

Thank you,

-Chief Michael C. DiBella