What’s Being Done in Our Communities to Educate on Teen Driving Safety

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While on the surface the statistics that I gave earlier in the month about Teen Driving look scary, the inroads that keep being made to keep our teens safe when driving are numerous. It was an encouraging thing to hear and see the different organizations in communities all across the country that are working towards implementing laws and educating parents and teens on driving safety.

The list is long and I unfortunately couldn’t write fast or furiously enough to get down everything, but let me share with you a few – and perhaps if you have a chance or a platform to talk about teen driving safety in your community you can mention them to others as well.

In 2009-2010 over 14,000 teens suffered heard injuries (including concussions). Many of those were the results of being in a car accident driving themselves or with another teen driver.

Interestingly enough NO state Graduated Driver’s License law currently meets all of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations. The Allstate Foundation is partnering with the AAP to help build a safe teen driving culture. Here is one of the things that is happening because of that in Connecticut.

There is a tablet available for patients in the exam room at the 15, 16 or 17 year visit. On the tablet is a 5 minute “learning to drive” module that reviews driving risks, GDL law, and tips for parents. It introduces the users to three speakers, a trauma surgeon, a state trooper and a driving school instructor. Throughout the module users are asked to respond to some simple questions about teens and safe driving. To learn more you can visit http://www.connecticutchildrens.org/aap.

In this age where teens are engaged with technology like this, I think it’s a great way to get the message of driving safety across to them.

Epping High School in New Hampshire, staged a mock crash to show the reality of the dangers that unsafe driving can have. With the services of the local fire departments, police, hospital paramedics and school officials, students were sent a message about the dangers of driving unsafely, the importance of seat belt usage, and the reality that poor decisions can end in fatality. If you’d like to see an article on this mock crash visit http://www.unionleader.com

In Florida, The Dori Slosberg Foundation is a non-governmental, not for profit, public service organization named in memory of Dori Slosberg, whose life tragically ended in 1996, when the car full of teens crashed due to reckless driving. The teens in the backseat were not wearing their seat belts. I heard the story from a personal perspective from Dori’s twin sister Emily who was at the #60Summit, and who was also in the vehicle that tragically cut short her sister’s life.

The Dori Slosberg Foundation is an influential force in changing the deadly statistics on Florida’s and the rest of the nation’s roadways, from providing Safe Teen Driving Programs through education, support and events. Visit www.dorislosberg.org for more information on this foundation.

Don’t think that it’s just adults in professional fields working toward the goal of Teen Driving Safety though, many teens across the country themselves are taking an interest and stepping up to lead their peers in this important cause.

Here are a couple of teens (Forrest & Ben) that were at the #60Summit representing their school in Idaho. Their school won a national competition to promote Teen Driving Safety and they designed this t-shirt as a part of that contest.

Sandy Spavone, executive director of NOYS (National Organizations for Youth Safety) told us that peer to peer education works, teens listen to teens – so when teens take leadership and mentor their peers, we can see change happen.

Do you know of any programs in your community that educate or inform to promote Teen Driving Safety? Share with us if you do!

I was invited to participate in a summit with The Allstate Foundation, for which they provided full travel expenses, meals, accommodations and/or other premiums, however my opinions are completely my own and I have not been compensated to publish positive or negative reviews of the event or products associated with my experience.