‘Off Road’ ATV safety focus of essay contest

The South Central Safe Community ATV Committee is holding an essay contest for 4th-12th graders on the topic of “Off Road Means Off Road: What Off Road Safety Means to Me.”

The contest is open to students in Assumption, Lafourche, St. James, St. John the Baptist and Terrebonne parishes.

Alicia Toups, executive director of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council for South Louisiana (ADCA), who is helping with the contest, said the idea is to raise awareness of the dangers of driving off-road vehicles on public roadways.

“What we are trying to do is get the word out that it is not legal for these things to be on public roads,” Toups said. “The number of accidents and incidents involving these things are tremendous.”

The ATV Committee is comprised of representatives of South Central Planning & Development Commission, Houma Police Department, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, Thibodaux Police Department, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council for South Louisiana and local shop owners, including Cycle World and Performance Suzuki of Houma.

“We’re involved with the law enforcement agencies,” Toups said. “Highway Safety in Baton Rouge is where the funding comes from through the South Central Safe Community’s Task Force. I used to own a track where people could ride legally and I wanted to help promote it because I know how dangerous (off-road riding) is.’

“It has actually expanded to involve golf carts, dirt bikes, four wheelers, scooters and go-karts,” Toups added.

All essays are required to be at least 200 words in length and must be submitted by June 25. The essays must include the writer’s name, age, address and daytime telephone number.

“We will notify the winners and have a cake and punch reception,” Toups said. “We invite them to come with their families. There are gifts but we don’t want to make it just about the gifts.”

Anyone interested in participating in the contest can contact Melissa Menuet of SCPDC at (985) 851-2900 or Toups at (985) 879-2273.