Comedian cracks wise, spreads awareness about driver's safety By 1st Lt. Patrick Boyce Media Officer
Safety for Marines operating motor vehicles is no laughing matter, but at the Marine Corps Combat Development Command Auditorium Aug. 28-29, Cajun stand-up comedian and traffic safety expert Steve Verret, who runs the Improv Comedy Traffic School in Carlsbad, Calif., had Marines and civilians laughing and applauding as he delivered his unique and often uproarious take on traffic safety. "Why notmake it fun?" Verret asked. "I'mg oing to make them laugh and then they'll learn more that way."
"It's anotherway of engaging Marines," agreed ConnieNance, leading program analyst at MCCDC. "It's highly effective."
Verret's presentation on base, organized by the Headquarters Safety Division, coincided with the basewide safety stand-down thatwasmandated prior to the LaborDay holiday due to the high rate of vehicle, especially motorcycle, fatalities that have occurred.

Safety Stand Down Master traffic safety-instructor/comedian Steve Verret uses a high-energy stand-up act combined with informative traffic safety material to entertain Kings Bay Sailors Dec. 10 at the base chapel. The performance was part of the submarine basesÕ holiday Safety Stand Down seminar. Eric C. Tretter

Safety is no laughing matter That is unless Steve Verret is making his point By MC1(SW) Joe Sabo, Periscope Staff

A Wednesday afternoon uproar of laughter could be heard outside the walls of the Chapel aboard Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base on Dec. 10.
Why, you ask?
A Safety Stand-down was taking place.
Vehicle safety is ordinarily a serious subject. But Steve Verret is a different type of Safety Stand-down speaker. The Louisiana native incorporates comedy into his lesson.
"I find that when people laugh they seem to be more alert and able to concentrate better," Verret said. "I started teaching defensive driving 22 years ago and found that if used an element of comedy I could reach more people."
Verret spoke about topics such as insurance rates in Georgia and why rates may change when Sailors move here. He also talked about road rage and being a supportive driver rather than a defensive driver and about how people neglect stop signs, using jokes about his uncle Raoul and Boudreau.
So far this fiscal year, there have been 12 traffic deaths in the Navy and Marine Corps combined. That is 12 more than wanted.
"That was very good. It kept my interest," said CS2(SS) Bobby Kimbro of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.