Teen drinking PSA

Odessa High School junior Darin Riley lost a close friend in a fatal car accident last summer.

His friend, 13, was asleep in the back seat while his 16-year-old brother was driving the family back from their lake house in San Angelo just before the car rolled killing his friend.

Tuesday afternoon Riley attended a luncheon at UTPB announcing the new public service announcement against teen drinking and reckless driving. Riley is now a young member of the Mayor's Drug and Crime Commission. 

State Farm Insurance and the city of Odessa Mayor's Drug and Crime Commission announced Tuesday the launch of the Underage Drinking and Driving Public Service Announcement campaign at the UTPB campus.

"Traffic has increased so we are seeing more violations," chairman of the Mayor's Commission Royce Bodiford said.

 "West Texas and Ector County have a high rate of alcohol use and accidents," Vella Connally, executive director of Permian Basin Regional Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, said.

The PSA premiered at the luncheon displaying still snapshots of teens at prom, swimming and enjoying life. Then a dismal black and white image of a car ripped to shreds plagued the audience. The final image was a gravestone.

Teens in the audience had a sobering look on their face when the PSA was over. It has already started airing, and will continue to show for eight months.

A grant of $10,000 given by State Farm Insurance made the PSA possible, and local television stations will help match the funds to show the announcement, Bodiford said.  

County commissioner Freddie Gardner, precinct 3 county commissioner candidate Dale Childers and commissioner Armando Rodriguez were present among other city officials to support the cause.

State Farm public affairs specialist Ryan Gauna said State Farm has a personal interest in helping improve teen safety as the largest automobile insurer in Texas.

Three teenagers from ECISD serving on the board of the Mayor's Drug and Crime Commission got up and spoke on the issue of teen safety and alcohol abuse.

ECISD student counselor Ren Pettijohn said for the first time in 20 years she didn't have the problem of finding a student to speak on behalf of other students - three felt passionate enough to say something, and three stood up and spoke on the issue.

TIPS FOR TEEN SAFETY

>> Teens tend to have more accidents when driving with passengers and at night, so don't let teens drive in either situation for at least six months.

>> State Farm offers students with good grades a discount on insurance because it has been proven that students with higher grades are better drivers, so keep those grades up.

 Source: provided by State Farm Insurance representative Mike Podzemny.