Piedmont Athens Regional recognizes trauma awareness month with teen driver Safety Summit

Athens, Ga. (May 21, 2026) — May is Trauma Awareness Month, and Piedmont Athens Regional’s Trauma Services team partnered with the Lutzie 43 Foundation to host a Safe Driving Summit at Oconee and North Oconee High Schools. The all-day events focus on reducing teen driver injuries and fatalities through education, prevention and real‑life awareness.

Held on back‑to‑back days at each high school, the interactive summits reached more than 2,700 students across both campuses. The events focused on teen driver safety, the serious consequences of risky driving behaviors and the lasting impact of traumatic injuries on individuals, families and communities.

Following an initial assembly with all students in the school, 10th‑grade students participated in small‑group breakout sessions, with approximately 300 to 350 students rotating through several hands‑on learning experiences. The breakout activities were designed to give students an inside look at what happens before, during and after a serious motor vehicle crash.

Breakout stations included a simulated hospital trauma bay experience; “Road to Recovery,” which highlighted post‑injury rehabilitation and the long‑term challenges trauma patients may face; as well as sessions led by law enforcement partners from the Georgia State Patrol, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and Watkinsville Police Department, who shared firsthand perspectives on crash response and roadway safety.

Students also participated in the “Get to Know Big Trucks” program, led by trucking and transportation professionals who guided small groups through how to safely share the road with tractor‑trailers. Topics included stopping distances, blind spots and best practices for passing large commercial vehicles.

Trauma Awareness Month, observed each May, is dedicated to raising awareness about injury prevention and the important role trauma centers play in saving lives. Piedmont Athens Regional is a Level II Trauma Center, serving as a critical resource for Northeast Georgia and providing advanced trauma care, rehabilitation and community education.

Through events like the Safe Driving Summit, Piedmont Athens Regional Trauma Services continues its commitment to proactive outreach focused on preventing injuries and empowering young drivers with knowledge that can help save lives.

For more information about Piedmont Athens Regional Trauma Services and community outreach efforts, visit piedmont.org.