Celebrating Mason Jones: PA Virtual’s Own ‘Guardrail Kid’

At PA Virtual Charter School, we're proud of our students' passions and their impressive abilities to impact the community. Today, we spotlight Mason Jones, a 12-year-old student whose interest and knowledge in road safety has turned into a viral campaign for making change to the roads you drive on.  We could all learn from Mason and the positive impacts he makes for all Americans.

Known on TikTok as the “Guardrail Kid,” Mason has captured the attention of thousands with his insightful observations about damaged and unsafe guardrails in Lancaster County and beyond. His daily videos do more than educate, they have prompted significant action from transportation officials, leading to safer roads for everyone! I have a hard enough time convincing our government officials to fix our local potholes!

Mason is already certified to install and inspect guardrails. Receiving his certifications from Road Systems Inc. - he has gone far beyond the call of duty. This type of training and rigor is not only impressive, but showcases how much Mason cares about making sure our roads are best prepared and safe. Let's stop for a second and mention that "Mason the Guard Rail Kid" has 26,500 FOLLOWERS on Tik Tok, WOW!  Talk about positivity! Make sure you give his page a look and support him.

One of the ubiquitous life lessons most of us learn as we begin to navigate roads - there are many things to be fixed, everywhere! Many of us have probably felt powerless to make a difference in such an important part of our lives - but here we have Mason proving that we can ALL make change happen.  

In lieu of that - remember to uphold our responsibility as safe drivers.

Safe Driving Tips:

• Keep a Safe Distance from others: Maintaining adequate space between vehicles can prevent accidents. This is one of the best ways to stay safe! 
  
  
• Stay Alert: Be aware of conditions of the road you’re on - inclement weather or roads that have not been properly maintained can cause issues. Slow down when necessary.
  
  
• Report Issues: Like Mason, if you notice unsafe conditions on the roads, report them to local authorities to help ensure they are addressed. Otherwise they may never get tended to!
  
  
• Wear Seat Belts: Seat belts save lives by reducing the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants by 45% and light truck occupants by 60%.
  
  
• Follow Speed Limits and Use Turn Signals: Speed limits are designed to ensure safety for all road users, they’re NOT just suggestions. Adhering to them helps you react better to unexpected situations and reduces the severity of accidents. Don’t forget to reasonably signal to others when you plan on turning.

Mason’s initiative showcases how our students apply their learning to real-world challenges, embodying PA Virtual’s commitment to fostering responsible and community-minded individuals. His work has not only made roads safer but has also highlighted the importance of youth engagement in public safety.

Remember that you have to be the change you want to see. Setting examples for others to follow - no matter how old or young you are, is the best way to make the world a better place. So if you feel the same passion for positive change that Mason does, go out there and make it happen. Inspire and help others. Mr. Rodgers, our beloved Pennsylvanian icon once said, "Look for the helpers."

We are incredibly proud of Mason’s achievements and his role as a young leader in our state. His dedication is an inspiring example of how passion, combined with education, can lead to meaningful change.