a case study from wright county: statistical & cultural change after a decade of parent/teen...
TRANSCRIPT
A Case Study From Wright County:
Statistical & Cultural Change After a Decade of Parent/Teen Meetings
Do you already conduct regular parent/teen meetings?
Are your meetings optional? Are your meetings part of your mandatory
curriculum? What percentage of parents show up to your
meetings?
SCWC- Has 100% Parent Participation
Parent’s are “ too busy” to attend an optional meeting.
Safe Communities of Wright County realized that to get busy parents to attend these meetings they needed to incorporate the parent/teen meetings into the curriculum. And guess what? It worked!
Safe Communities of Wright County
Safe Communities approached the nine high schools in Wright County to ask if they would consider partnering on a parent/teen program as part of the driver’s education curriculum.
Initially three high schools signed up- after three years all nine schools were willing to participate.
Every Parent/Teen Must Attend
Today, Safe Communities of Wright County has progressed to where every parent/teen in Wright County wishing to participate in Driver’s Education MUST offer a parent/teen meeting no matter if they are a public or private based company.
THIS IS KEY TO THE SUCCESS….
The Logistics
Safe Communities bills the driver’s ed program (whether it is the school, community ed or other) $10 per student to attend the meetings.
The Driver’s Ed programs build this fee into the cost of taking the 30 hours of behind the wheel.
Parents & Teens – Please sit together
Enjoy these moments of calm before your teen starts driving!
Safe Communities of Wright County
Parent & Teen Driving Presentation
Why are we here?
Your teen is going from the second safest mode of transportation in the world…
To what will probably be the most dangerous position they will ever be in in their lives – the driver of a vehicle
Overview of Tonight’s Program
Team of Presenter’s– Crash Survivor– Law Enforcement Officer– Emergency Medical Professional
Please silence your cell phones!
Goals
Increase teen and parent awareness of the risks and responsibilities of teens behind the wheel
Increase the awareness of parent influence and role during this process
Provide practical methods for teens to minimize crash risk and increase safety while driving
Safe Communities of Wright County
Nonprofit organization focused on traffic safety since 1997
Mission is to reduce traffic crashes and the resulting injuries and fatalities through education and prevention efforts.
Safe Communities of Wright County Partners
Law Enforcement Agencies in Wright County Wright County Public Health Wright County Highway Department Wright County Attorney’s Office & Court Services Allina Health EMS New River Medical Center Buffalo Hospital Wright County School Districts Business Leaders & Concerned Citizens
Wright County Population & Crash Fatality Comparison
What is the local reality?
Between 2000 and 2009, 22 Wright County teens killed and nearly 1500 were injured in MVC on roads in Wright County.
WC greatest success has been 2010, 2011, and 2012 – NO teen fatalities! This has never happened before in Wright County.
Wright County Concerns
Young & Inexperienced Drivers Distracted Driving Drunk Driving Lack Seat Belt Use
Leading Cause of Death in MinnesotaAges 16 - 17
Homicide7%Suicide
27%
Other injury13%
Disease13%
Other5%
Motor VehicleCrash 36%
Teens have the highest crash rateDriver crash rates per million miles traveled
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
16 17 18 19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85+
Age
Cra
shes
Guest Speaker
Asking local people who have been involved in accidents- either as the person who caused the accident, or been a victim of the accident are excellent spokespeople.
The key is to have speakers talk about what happened and the lessons they have learned.
Police Officer
A local Police Officer or High School Liaison Officer will talk about the Minnesota Traffic Laws
Minnesota Traffic Law
& Teens
Driving is a Privilege
Can lose license with 3 violations in 12 month period
Any person may voluntarily surrender their driver’s license
Parental Right to Revoke
Parents have an authority to “Revoke Consent” for child under 18
Revoke can occur for any reason Only the parent can reinstate If parent does not reinstate, teen must wait
until they are 18 years old Forms available through MN Driver &
Vehicle Services (Withdrawal of Parent Consent PS33061)
Teen Passenger Restriction
TEEN LAW! For the first 6 months of licensure: Only one
passenger under the age of 20 is permitted, unless with a parent.
For the second 6 months of licensure: No more than 3 passengers under the age of 20 are permitted, unless with a parent.
Exemption: Immediate family Violation is a misdemeanor
Nighttime Driving Restriction
TEEN LAW!For the first 6 months of licensure:
Driving is prohibited midnight – 5am. Exemptions: Driving with a licensed driver age
25 or older; driving between home and employment; driving for employment; driving to/from home and a school event for which the school has not provided transportation.
Violation is a misdemeanor
Cell Phone Restriction
A permit or provisional license holder may not operate a vehicle while communicating over, or otherwise operating, a cellular or wireless telephone (hand-held or hands-free) while the . vehicle is in motion.
DYK? (Did you know….)It is illegal for drivers of all ages to
compose, read, or send text messages or access the internet while on the road.
Cells & Texting by the Numbers
The No.1 source of driver inattention is use of a wireless device
Drivers who use a cell phone while driving are 4 times as likely to be involved in an injury crash –
texting increases it to 8 times Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of
brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent
You travel 53 feet per second in an vehicle moving 35 mph
The Last Text
Seat Belts – It’s the LAW!
MN Law for All Drivers Driver and ALL passengers in the vehicle (in every
seat) must wear seat belts at all times. Passengers 15 and older who are not buckled may be
cited for a seat belt violation along with the driver
Children under 4 must be secured in child safety seats Children under 8 and 4’9” must be in booster seats
Law enforcement may pull you over if you or anyone in your vehicle is not wearing a seat belt. The seat belt fine is $25, however with added surcharges and fees, you will have to pay $115!
Importance of a Seatbelt
*In the event of a crash, drivers and passengers are at a 5 times greater risk of injury and fatality if even one person in the vehicle does not buckle up!
*Note number of teens in car
Seatbelts
Estimated Costs of First DUI
Towing charge $200
Impound lot $18/day
Driver License Reinstatement Fee $700
New Driver License $19
Alcohol Assessment (mandatory) $125
Maximum Fine $700
Car Insurance for 3 years $14,500
Lawyer Fees $4000
TOTAL = $20,262
Drug Influences
Alcohol laws also apply to controlled substances Teens cite cars as top place to use marijuana Current trends show an increase in heroin as well
as shared use of prescription medication, synthetics, K-2, bath salts.
Even be aware of supervised over-the-counter and prescribed medications, you never know how it will effect your new driver
Driving concerns: delayed reaction, tunnel vision, slowed reflexes, drowsy driving …
The Traffic Stop… What if I get pulled over?
Pull over in a safe spot
Stay in your vehicle
Roll down windowKeep a good
attitude
The Traffic Stop… What is going to happen?
Officer will ask for identification Officer will also want proof of insurance Officer will ask questions Safety precautions
– Lighting– Back-up
If I Crash….If I Crash….
STOP
Pull Over
Help Injured
Exchange Information
Ted Foss “Move Over” Law
When driving on a road with two or more lanes, you must keep one lane away when passing a stopped ambulance, fire truck or law enforcement vehicle.
If you are not able to safety move over, reduce your speed!
Fine: $135
Ted Foss “Move Over” Law
When driving on a road with two or more lanes, you must keep one lane away when passing a stopped ambulance, fire truck or law enforcement vehicle.
If you are not able to safety move over, reduce your speed!
Fine: $135
Tips for Safe Teen Driving
Don’t rely solely on Driver’s Education Restrict number of teen passengers Restrict night driving times Expose teen driver to all types of driving conditions Use your seat belt – every seat & every time Watch following distances… don’t tailgate Concentrate on driving Set a good example Be patient, calm, and supportive
Remind Parents of Their Role
Resources such as “Roadworthy: A Parent’s Guide to Teaching Teens to Drive” is an excellent resource for parents to use to help them create a successful and stress free driver’s training experience for BOTH the teen and the parent themselves.
Remind Parents of Their Role
Emergency Medical Service
Ambulance Drivers who can tell their own personal experiences and contact with the audience are the best choices here as well.
Or could be emergency room nurses or doctors able to tell their own experiences and talk about the consequences.
Crashes Aren’t Accidents
They are predictable & preventable.
NOTE: Some of the photos/videos you are about to view are graphic in
nature. We want to be sensitive to families who have been impacted by crashes. If you need to step out of the room, please feel free to do so. Our intent is NOT to scare you, but to show you the real consequences of poor choices while driving.
Causes of Teen CrashesWright County
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
DriverInattention
Failure to Yield Unsafe Speed Weather Following tooclose
PhysicallyImpaired
Teen Crashes by Time of Day
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
12AM 2AM 4AM 6AM 8AM 10AM 12PM 2PM 4PM 6PM 8PM 10PM
Teens & Driver Distraction
TEXTING Cell Phones Friends Eating/Drinking Music Mirror
No matter how much driving experience you have, multi-tasking while driving is an unsafe practice.
Add Personal Stories
Add pics here Use articles or local news stories to bring the
point closer to home. EMS folks can tell their own personal stories
here that makes them more memorable.
Teens Failing to Yield
Complete stops – It only takes a driver an extra 2-
seconds to come to a complete stop at a stop sign.
Making sure it is clear to proceed– 60% of all intersection-related
crashes could be avoided if drivers looked left-right-left
Teens & Speed
Following distances Weather Road conditions
When a car travels just 10 miles faster (from 55 to 65 mph), crash force goes up 40%.
Over one-third of teen drivers think speeding is ok as long as you don’t get caught by law enforcement. Allstate Foundation Survey
Impaired Teens
Alcohol & Drugs Prescription & OTC Medicine Fatigue Emotions
Even a small amount of alcohol can influence a driver’s judgment.
Alcohol is not the only thing that impairs drivers…
Lack of sleep is a MAJOR issue for teen drivers!
Video clip example…
Teens & Seatbelts
Teens are most likely drivers to crash and least likely to be buckled.
Teen passengers MOST unlikely to be buckled.
Wearing your seat belt increases chance of surviving a crash and minimizing injuries by at least 50%.
Two-thirds of teens killed in fatal crashes were NOT wearing their seat belts.
Students and parents complete evaluations after each presentation.
From parents– 99% indicate the presentation adds value to the driver’s ed
course– 91% will change the way they teach their child to drive as a
result of the information shared– 88% will place driving restrictions on their child as a result
of the information shared– 77% will change their own driving habits as a result of the
information shared
Students and parents complete evaluations after each presentation
From students– 97% indicate the presentation adds value to the driver’s ed
course– 94% indicate the presentation will influence their new
driving habits– Crash Survivor” and “Crash Photos” cited as having the
most impact on them during the presentation
Remember:
The biggest factor in staying safe on the road is
YOU!
Summary:
If we can use these meetings to get parent on board with taking a larger role in the driver’s training process, it’ll make it easer for instructors to do their jobs well.
How Can You Start?
If you are interested in receiving a copy of this Responsible Driving Handbook for parents
If you are interested in getting a link to the Power Point Presentation of the Safe Communities of Wright County Parent/Teen Meeting
Please email us at [email protected]