The 2013 Pike County Teen Safe Driving event is set for Jan. 18 at Cattleman Park. Saving lives is the goal of this annual safe driving event. Parents and teens are encouraged to make plans to attend. It could be the most important event they will ever attend, said Jennifer C. Garrett, an event organizer.

“This the third year for the Pike County Safe Driving event,” Garrett said. “This year our speaker will be Lt. Mike Reese with the ABC Board. He will cover all aspects of drinking and driving and drug use.

Garrett said alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, prescription drugs and marijuana are often readily available and considered to be the entryway to a life of drug dependency and delinquency.

“That’s why this event is so important for teens and parents,” she said.

The safe driving event is free and open to the public.

“We are able to offer this event due to the generous support of our community through donations and various fundraisers,” Garrett said.

“We will have different speakers this year who will help educate young people and the parents on ways to prevent injuries and deaths on the highway.”

Booths will be set up with pertinent information to take home and digest. Local agencies that are already on board for the Pike County Teen Safe Driving event are the Pike County Sheriff’s Department, Troy Police Department, Pike County Juvenile Office and the ABC Board. Others will be added.

The Pike County Teen Safe Driving Group will also have a booth with information and will be selling T-shirts.

“Before Lt. Reese speaks, Ben Crawley from Wiley Sanders Truck Lines will talk about driving safety and the things that we all need to be aware of when driving on the roads with 18-wheelers,” Garrett said.

The doors of Cattleman Park will open for the 2013 Pike County Teen Safe Driving event on Friday, January 18 at 5:30 p.m. to provide opportunities for teens and parents to talk with the vendors before the program begins at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Garrett at 334-268-6469 or Dawn Broderway at 334-268-7316 or visit the Pike County Teen Safe Driving Group’s website at jcgpw@live.com.