Sound Shore

This just in from Wendie Seguljic, a co-chairwoman of Project Prevention Safe Driving in Rye Brook:
On April 20, Blind Brook High School will hold its second annual Junior Driving Night.
The focus of the evening will be a presentation by the Tina and Rick Blank, who will share the story of their son Michael, BBHS 2002, whose life was cut short after his death from a tragic car accident when he was 16. As is true of nearly 70% of fatal teen crashes, alcohol and drugs were not a factor in this crash. Also included in the program will be Chris Greco, one of Michael’s best friends, and Officer John Hawkins of the Rye Brook Police Department, who was one of the responding officers the night of the accident.

Project Prevention Safe Driving chairwomen Wendie Seguljic and Diane Butkiewicz, and Blind Brook High School assistant principal, Jane Wermuth, in conjunction with Tina and Rick Blank, initiated this program last year. Juniors at BBHS and at least one parent must attend this program in order for students to be granted a pass to park on campus as seniors.

The goal of this program is to raise awareness among teen drivers and their parents of the risks that contribute to car crashes. Approximately 6,000 teens died in fatal car crashes in the USA last year. In over 70% of these crashes, the teen driver was at fault, and alcohol and drugs were not factors

Through the Michael Blank Memorial Fund, the Blanks have generously given their time and support to educate teens and parents in our
community about the dangerous combination of driver inexperience, driver distraction, speeding and multiple passengers. In addition, Mike’s Fund has helped to underwrite an “In-Control” weekend driving experience, where teens get additional training behind the wheel in a variety of adverse driving conditions.