In the News – National Teen Driver Safety Week Efforts
Across the Country
Check the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)TM website
http://www.ghsa.org/html/projects/ntdsw/2009.html for updates on what each state's highway safety agency is doing during National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW). We've also compiled a sampling of what other organizations, schools, towns, and cities are doing across the country.
The Lighter Side of Teen Driving
October 19, 2009 – State Farm Insurance Companies® and Steve Harvey are teaming up to tackle the teen driving issue through comedy. The website, www.harveyknowsbest.com, which debuted this week, will be updated throughout the year with 48 digital shorts of Harvey's inimitable views. This week's short deals with buying teens a car. Future shorts will cover car insurance and more.
Contest for Teens Launched by California Group
October 19, 2009 – Impact Teen Drivers, a leading teen driver safety group based in California, is launching a creative contest during NTDSW for teens to help raise awareness of distractions and other dangerous practices related to driving. Teens are encouraged to write, draw, compose music, or create a video that answers the question, "What do you consider lethal?" Entries will be voted on by other teens through February 2010 and shown on the website. The contest is designed to help promote safer choices while driving and to raise awareness that at least 75 percent of all crashes involving teens have nothing to do with drugs and/or alcohol.
Indiana State Government and Community Support NTDSW
October 16, 2009 – On October 20 Indiana will rally for teen driver safety to kick off statewide National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) efforts. Representatives from the Governor's Council on Impaired & Dangerous Driving and the Indiana Criminal Justic Institute will join with State Farm Insurance, Indiana Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), parents, and state legislators at the state house to promote this special week. 153 pairs of shoes will be on display to remember those teens killed in crashes in 2007.
CDC Pilots Ad Campaign Urging Parents to Talk to Teens About Driving Safety
October 15, 2009 – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is piloting an ad campaign to encourage parents to talk about driving safety with their teens.
The topic joins alcohol and drugs as crucial matters parents need to discuss with their sons and daughters. The new "Parents Are the Key" campaign, which encourages parents to talk with their teens about safe driving and to establish house driving rules, is being tested in Little Rock, Arkansas and Columbus, Ohio.
New Jersey Groups Renew Commitment to Teen Driver Safety
October 14, 2009 – The NJ Teen Driver Study Commission, the Brain Injury Association of NJ, and local safety advocates are hosting a reception on October 20, 2009 to mark their progress and celebrate their success in saving young lives through action and advocacy. It will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Freehold Borough High School, 2 Robertsville Road, in Freehold. Presentations will be given on Project Lundy, a local student-led teen driver safety initiative, and the Brain Injury Association's new parent/teen website.
Texas Group Offers Free DVD and Booklets for Teaching New Teen Drivers
October 14, 2009 – A new Texas law that bans drivers under age 18 from using wireless communication devices will be highlighted during NTDSW 2009. The Safe Communities Driver Safety Campaign at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is also offering a free DVD for parents of teens who will soon begin learning to drive. The DVD also comes with three booklets on safe driving, driving costs, and driving exercises to teach specific skills. To order a DVD and booklets, call (361) 825-2551 or e-mail safe.communities@tamucc.edu.
