GCHS junior Lila Riggs is raising awareness of rural road safety for her FCCLA state competition event. Today, elected officials and law enforcement joined Grayson County Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson as he signed an official proclamation committed to awareness, safe practices, collaboration, and community engagement.
Joining in the signing were State Rep. Samara Heavrin, State Sen. Steve Meredith, KY State Trooper Scotty Sharp, Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins, Leitchfield Police Chief David Riley, LPD Detective Eric Miller, FCS teacher and FCCLA sponsor Cody Mooneyhan, YSC Director Barbara Allen, and Grayson County Technology Center Director Matt Hayes.
Accidents on rural roadways are 62% more likely to be fatal than those on urban roads. According to Riggs, many of those incidents are due to “misjudgment, improper passing, or failure to yield. Others are due to a lack of knowledge of preventative safety measures.”
In addition to passenger vehicles, rural roads are also often traveled by farm equipment. Riggs grew up on a farm, “so I got to see firsthand how people drive, especially on rural roadways.” Recently earning her intermediate driver’s license “opened my eyes even more because I have to be careful driving, and I just feel like I really need to advocate for it.”