Northwest Catholic students take I-Promise Pledge

West Hartford – Channel 3, along with the West Hartford police, asked students at Northwest Catholic High School to take the I-Promise pledge during a safety presentation at the school on Jan. 30. NWC is the first West Hartford school that West Hartford police and Channel 3 partnered with on the program.

I-Promise is an educational campaign to warn Connecticut drivers of all ages of the dangers of driving while distracted and to change the way they think and act in a car. It also encourages students to make good decisions in all aspects of their lives. Channel 3 traffic reporter Olessa Stepanova showed students a video about a young man who killed a 75-year-old man while driving distracted. Images from the crash scene drew audible gasps from the students.

Public safety personnel from West Hartford also addressed the students. Paramedic Bree Eichler spoke of the dozens of accidents she's witnessed where teen drivers were injured or killed behind the wheel. Lieutenant Kevin Munson of the fire department said he'd lost count of how many fatal car accidents he's been called to, telling students that it could happen to them, if they don't think before they drive. Police Captain Donald Melanson asked students, "What would it be like if you caused the death of a close friend because you were driving distracted?" Lieutenant Frank Fallon echoed that call for students to think before they drive, urging them to make the pledge, talk to their family about the issue of distracted driving, and make that message important to everyone they know.

After the presentation, students were encouraged to sign the I-Promise pledge, which asks students to make a promise not to drive distracted, not to text while driving, to keep their hands on the wheel and to keep their eyes on the road. Hundreds of NWC students and faculty signed the pledge. The students were also asked to encourage others, including their parents, to take the I-Promise pledge.

NWC Vice Principal/Dean of Students Brendan Canny '86 said the increasing number of students who drive distracted concerned the school. "We want to make students more aware of the dangers of driving distracted and to encourage them to make good choices both in and out of school," he said.

Since 1961, Northwest Catholic's mission has been to educate the whole person: mind, body, spirit, and soul. Enrollment for the Class of '17 is now under way, and prospective students are invited to attend an Information Session at the school on Feb. 7 at 7pm. For more information, contact Maryann Lacouture (860-236-4221, x140 or mlacouture@nwcath.org).

 

Photo 1: NWC students sign the I-Promise Pledge.

Photo 2: Olessa Stepanova shows students a video about a young man who killed a 75-year-old man while driving distracted.