National Teen Driver Safety Week October 16 – 22, 2011
During National Teen Driver Safety Week, October 16 – 22, 2011, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission will kickoff a partnership with State Farm and Clear Channel Radio to develop a project aimed at reducing distracted driving collisions among teens.
Radio announcers on two Clear Channel stations that have high ratings in the teen market — KUBE FM and KISS FM — will solicit personal stories from teens about their experiences with distracted driving. The stories will be developed into radio public service announcements and videos which will be placed on YouTube and other social media sites.
The research shows – and most parents agree – that teens listen to their fellow teens much more intently than they listen to older people, so the aim of the project is to increase the motivating power of the message.
“Our goal is to develop a peer-to-peer education project where teens are educating their fellow teens about the dangers of distracted driving,” said Andrew McVicar, State Farm Public Affairs Specialist.
The Traffic Safety Commission received a $50,000 grant from State Farm for the project. Other project partners include the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, the UW Medical Center, and Public Health Seattle King County.
Collision injury and death data shows that distracted driving is an increasing problem among teens, given the popularity of cell phones and other electronic devices. Almost 5,500 people die each year in the USA as a result of distracted driving. Teen drivers have the highest proportion of distraction-related crashes.
Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, killing more of them than cancer, drug use, homicide and suicide combined. Between 2004 and 2008, young drivers (age 16-25) made up 15% of all licensed drivers in the State of Washington but were involved in 38% of the fatal and serious injury collisions. Their lack of driving experience can contribute to critical misjudgments if they become distracted.
Another aspect of the project involves promoting the anti-distracted driving message with high school-based service learning projects.
National Teen Driver Safety Week, promoted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission, is October 16 – 22.
“We are grateful for the ongoing partnership with State Farm and their support of traffic safety initiatives,” said Lowell Porter, Traffic Safety Commission director. “During times of diminishing resources, financial support from State Farm makes a significant difference as we work to reduce the numbers of those killed and injured on Washington roads.”