BAY MINETTE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — Teaching high school students the importance of driving responsibly was on the agenda at one local college over the weekend.
Around 140 students from seven area schools turned out for the “UR KEYS 2 DRV” teen driving summit at Coastal Alabama Community College in Bay Minette Friday.
The day began with a special presentation from Mike Lutzenkirchen. He’s the executive director of the Lutzie 43 Foundation, and the father of Philip Lutzenkirchen, a former Auburn student-athlete who died in a single-vehicle crash in June of 2014.
“I’m on this journey of trying to use Philip’s life and story of the incredible 23 years he had, and the platform he created as a student-athlete at Auburn to let people know of how he lost his life, and the things our foundation has developed to, hopefully, help create better and safer drivers through our 43 key seconds initiative,” Lutzenkirchen said.
The football star wore the number 43, inspiring the name, “Lutzie 43 Foundation.” The 43 Key Seconds initiative encourages drivers of all ages to take 43 seconds to make sure their head, hands, and eyes are clear, and to buckle their seatbelt before starting a vehicle. That’s not where the day’s lessons ended.