PHX Reporter

Banner Health, a non-profit healthcare system, has initiated an educational outreach to high school students in Surprise, Arizona, focusing on the dangers of distracted driving. Nurses and trauma outreach coordinators from Banner Health visited Paradise Honors High School to address the crucial issue among young drivers, particularly during the prom season.

Coordinators Tracey Fejt and Heather Santiago played a significant role in emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus while driving. Fejt highlighted, “Teen drivers are at a higher risk for distracted driving, especially during times of celebration like prom. Our goal is to give them a realistic understanding of how even one moment of distraction can change their life forever.”

With statistics from the Arizona Department of Transportation underscoring distracted driving as a leading cause of fatalities among young drivers, Banner Health has responded by developing an interactive class. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2,514 fatalities involved young drivers aged 15-18 in 2022. The class provided students with strategies to reduce distractions and stressed the significance of attentive driving.

Students participated in simulations, using goggles that simulated the impact of alcohol or marijuana while driving and activities demonstrating the risks of texting behind the wheel. These exercises illustrated the impaired reactions when multitasking during driving.

This initiative is part of Banner Health’s extensive commitment to enhancing community health and safety, focusing particularly on young and inexperienced drivers. Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health operates 33 hospitals and various other healthcare services, aiming to simplify healthcare access through virtual visits and online appointment bookings.