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Singers, guitarists, and comedians showed off their talent and wit for over 50 guests on Glenvar High School’s stage Friday, February 4 for a talent show by Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety.

Emcees Amanda White and Kenna Chapman quoted figures from the Roanoke Valley’s 2010 Youth Risk Behavior Survey between acts. Caryn Martin led a group of actors in skits depicting just how hard it can be to choose the good path over peer pressured risky-behavior.

Along with mainstream hits like “Back to December” (Kendall Jarvis and Cole Herndon) and “Wonderwall” (Tyler Parrish), Zach Dooley and Troy Fryling performed their latest hit single, “Coconut in a salad bowl.”

The show is part of a statewide competition in which GHS has a chance of winning an MTV-style game show. They’ve received points for other prevention-related activities: public service announcements through elementary and middle school PTA programs, awareness posters, their “Buckle Up, Drive Sober” campaign, taking drug- and alcohol-free driving pledges, and more.

In 2009, 92 teens in Virginia died in motor vehicle crashes. Sixty-percent of those teens were not wearing their seatbelt; 35% of fatal crashes involving teenagers were alcohol-related; Cell phones, messing with the radio/CD player, and being distracted by teen passengers caused 19% of those fatal crashes.

Click here for more statistics and information from YOVASO.

Want to see video from the talent show? We’ve got it in this earlier post.