The document discusses safe driving practices for teenagers. It notes that distracted driving, such as cell phone use, having teenage passengers, and speeding significantly increases the risk of accidents for teen drivers. Specifically, it states that the crash rate for 16-year-olds is 3.7 times higher than adult drivers due to their inexperience combined with these common distractions. The document provides statistics on teen driving accidents and fatalities and urges teens to avoid distractions in order to drive safely.
2. When you think of driving, what words, ideas, or phrases come to mind? fun convenient expensive cars Luxury? Danger? friends responsibility
3. Quiz yourself 1. About how many teenagers in America die every day from car crashes? a. 4-5 b. 7-9 c. 10-14 d. 18-29 2. Teenagers are more likely to get into crashes when: They are new drivers They are driving with teenage passengers They are speeding D. All of the above. 3. What is the leading cause of death of teens in America?
4. Quiz yourself 4. What percentage of teen car accidents are the result of alcohol? a. 10 b. 15 c. 25 d. 65 5. What percentage of all drivers are teens? a. 3% b. 7% c. 14% d. 20% 6. Teens participate in about _____ % of America’s fatal crashes. a. 3% b. 7% c. 13% d. 20%
5. 11 deaths each day combines to over 4000 fatalities each year And many are PREVENTABLE!
6. The crash rate for 16-year-olds is 3.7 times higher than drivers of all ages. WHY?
8. Messing with the radio Eating while driving Talking on cell phone Texting Speeding Too many friends in the car with you Just not paying enough attention
9. Who is most at risk? Among teen drivers, those at especially high risk for motor vehicle crashes are: Males: Teenage males are twice as likely to get into a fatal crash than teenage females. (they tend to drive faster and more aggressively)
10. Teens driving with teen passengers: The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of teen drivers. The more friends in your car, the more likely you are to get in an accident. Newly licensed teens: Crash risk is particularly high during the first year that teenagers are eligible to drive. (this is why many states have adopted a graduated licensing process)
14. Cause and EFFECT, EFFECT, EFFECT, EFFECT… Who is affected by your choice?
15.
16. CELL PHONES Anything that takes your MIND off driving, HANDS off the wheel, or EYES off the road is a distraction. Drivers using a cell phone are 4-23 times more likely to cause a crash. (4= talking; 23= texting) 3. The impairment caused by texting while driving is equal to that of someone with a .08 percent blood alcohol level. 4. Texting drivers spend up to 10% of their time outside of their lane.
17. CELL PHONES Your actions lead to very real consequences 2. One small decision can have a big impact 3. Put your phone in the back seat, turn it off, have a “designated texter”, or download software that deactivates your phone while in motion
18. Cell phones and Driving: Laws Individual State's cell phone laws: http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html 30 states outlaw text messages while driving; 8 outlaw talking without a hands-free device. 28 states ban all cell phone use by novice drivers.
21. FRIENDS Adolescents need acceptance among their peers. Influence is called peer pressure – it can be positive or negative. Making a decision while facing peer pressure is even more challenging. 3. Extra passengers often result in teens driving more aggressively and can have serious consequences.
24. SPEEDING The most common cause for a crash is unsafe speed. The human brain doesn’t fully mature in its ability to recognize cause and effect/consequences until age 25. 3. Think about some of the choices you make everyday; do you have thoughts of being invincible?
27. Think: How big of a problem is distracted driving at your school? Think: Which dangerous behaviors are you guilty of? Call to Action: What can you do to abate (lessen, diminish the intensity of) the occurrence of this avoidable trend?
Ask students to take a mental scan of what they already know/feel about driving. Be sure to call their attention to the less pleasant parts– like the responsibility and danger of driving. (often overshadowed by fun aspects!)
Answers: 1. c. (11 per day in 2009). 2. d; 3 Car Crashes. I explain that the 11 per day statistics is an average. In large groups I have them answer in their heads. In smaller classes, I have students raise hands for each choice so they can compare their guesses to their peers’.
Answers: 1 25%, down from 32% in 2008. 2. 7%. 3. 13% (not discrepancy in statistic 5 and 6)
Over 70 percent of teenage car crashes were the result of driver error, which is preventable! This is good news!
Emphasize that being inexperienced already makes teens more vulnerable to a crash… so adding distractions can be even more potent for new drivers.
Usually students think drunk driving is the major concern to be aware of while riding or driving; stress that it is ANYTHING that impairs a driver’s ability to focus on driving that is dangerous.
Females crash just as often; they do not get in fatal crashes as often.
If your state has a graduated license phase, explain it here. You can also tie these 2 facts into why students can’t leave for lunch anymore (closed campus). (rules or laws are made to protect us)
The next part of the presentation addresses the 3 main reasons why teens crash. There is time for discussion after each video.
Explain that it is not just your life that is affected by a crash. It’s everyone who loves you and everyone who loves the other people involved. Also ask- What happens if you are the instrument of a crash, rather than a victim? (like the driver who killed Ryan).
Use this visual to show the impact of one crash and all of the layers of repercussions. (emotional, financial, and legal).
Use the link to find out what laws exist in your state. Also explain that if you drive in another state, you must know and follow that state’s laws.
