On January 31, 2015, Trooper Nick Dees and Trooper Keith Burch were responding to a collision involving a tractor-trailer on I-40 in Seminole County near Pottawatomie County line. While assessing the scene, a driver struck both officers. Trooper Dees died instantly, and Trooper Burch sustained serious injuries. It was discovered that the driver of the vehicle had failed to yield to the flashing lights at the scene because they had been sending and receiving text messages for several miles.
As a result of this horrible crash, the Trooper Nick Dees Law, Title 47-11-901d, went into effect November 1, 2015. This law states, “It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle on any street or highway within this state while using a handheld electronic communication device to manually compose, send or read an electronic text message while the motor vehicle is in motion.”
Take time on January 31st, or the week leading up to it, to honor and educate your students and school about Trooper Dees and the Nick Dees Law. This can include but is not limited to:
Mayor proclamations
Guest Speaker
Morning announcements or video announcements
Flyers
Article in school or local paper
Bulletin Board
Chalking the sidewalks
Messages on marquees or in school handouts
Remember, the goal of this activity is to Honor Trooper Dees and the law that bears his name.
Is This Activity Online, In-person, or both: Both
Cost: Free
Point Value: 150 - 400
Share photos and videos to school social media sites and tag Oklahoma Challenge and sponsoring safety organization.
Facebook #okchallenge or @OklahomaChallengeDistractedDriving
Instagram @oklahomachallenge or #okchallenge
Contact Information:
Email: info@oklahomachallenge.org
Organization: Educational Alternatives - Oklahoma Challenge
Organization Website: https://oklahomachallenge.org
On January 31, 2015, Trooper Nick Dees and Trooper Keith Burch were responding to a collision involving a tractor-trailer on I-40 in Seminole County near Pottawatomie County line. While assessing the scene, a driver struck both officers. Trooper Dees died instantly, and Trooper Burch sustained serious injuries. It was discovered that the driver of the vehicle had failed to yield to the flashing lights at the scene because they had been sending and receiving text messages for several miles.
As a result of this horrible crash, the Trooper Nick Dees Law, Title 47-11-901d, went into effect November 1, 2015. This law states, “It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle on any street or highway within this state while using a handheld electronic communication device to manually compose, send or read an electronic text message while the motor vehicle is in motion.”
Take time on January 31st, or the week leading up to it, to honor and educate your students and school about Trooper Dees and the Nick Dees Law. This can include but is not limited to:
Mayor proclamations
Guest Speaker
Morning announcements or video announcements
Flyers
Article in school or local paper
Bulletin Board
Chalking the sidewalks
Messages on marquees or in school handouts
Remember, the goal of this activity is to Honor Trooper Dees and the law that bears his name.
Is This Activity Online, In-person, or both: Both
Cost: Free
Point Value: 150 - 400
Share photos and videos to school social media sites and tag Oklahoma Challenge and sponsoring safety organization.
Facebook #okchallenge or @OklahomaChallengeDistractedDriving
Instagram @oklahomachallenge or #okchallenge
Contact Information:
Email: info@oklahomachallenge.org
Organization: Educational Alternatives - Oklahoma Challenge
Organization Website: https://oklahomachallenge.org
