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Vol 23, No. 12 • April 2024
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Buckle up: Highway Patrol officer stresses safety on the road By Lucy Weber Bryan McGee's best advice: Always buckle up. As a public affairs officer for the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, the Alcorn County resident works as a liaison between the patrol and the general public. He regularly speaks to schools, civic groups and other organizations on the importance of defensive driving to keep everyone safe on the road. "I get out and help people. That's part of the job I've always enjoyed," said McGee, who worked 17 years as a "road man" or trooper before becoming a public affairs officer, one of the flag bearers for the department. He has served as the patrol's spokesman for District 4 based in New Albany for four years ago. Before joining public affairs, he was also on the SWAT team for 17 years. To encourage safe driving, McGee strongly supports MHP's programs D.R.I.V.E. program, which stands for Driving Requires Initiative Values & Education, and one especially important in the current season, P.R.O.M. or Please Return on Monday. Begun in 2020, the goal of the D.R.I.V.E. campaign is to reduce the number of driving deaths of teenagers. "Mississippi ranks in the top 5 in the nation for teen fatalities on the road," said the father of three. "Our normal range is Return Address: P.O. Box 1292 Corinth, MS 38835
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Staff Sergeant Bryan McGee
between 60 and 70 and that's too many." In speaking to students, especially, McGee said he stresses the "Fatal Four" which includes speeding, no
seat belt use, DUIs and distracted driving, such as texting. He speaks to drivers' education classes across the district and emphasizes defensive driving or paying attention to everyone else on the road. He tells students that when they drive
down a major thoroughfare and come to a light or four-way stop to look at the three other drivers at the intersection. "Look and see who's on their phone," he said. "That resonates with them because it's not just young people on them." The P.R.O.M. program also encourages safe driving by reminding students to make good choices, like buckling up, no drinking and driving and no texting, McGee said. "Seat belt usage saves more lives," he said. "We stress making good habits of wearing seat belts to the kids we talk to. We try to dispel myths they have of why they don't wear them." After graduating from Kossuth High School, McGee attended the University of Mississippi where he majored in political science. He considered going to law school, but took a break from school and ended up working in Connecticut for two years after college. Then 911 happened. McGee tried to join the military but a previous injury left him unable to join so he moved back home to Corinth. He joined the Corinth Police Department but after 30 days on the job, the Highway Patrol called about his earlier application. "I always want to try and better myself. The way I saw it, the Highway Patrol is the premiere law enforcement agency in the state," he said of his reason for immediately joining. McGee said he has always enjoyed helping people and that is a big part of the job. "I try to do my best and be an example trooper and treat people with respect. I always want to give my best."