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Distracted driving is the number
one cause of accidents for new drivers. Teen
drivers are inherently at a disadvantage due to
their lack of driving experience on the road.
I wrote the new law that bans texting while
driving – the most dangerous of all
distractions – when I served in the State
House.
Just Drive PA --- www.justdrivepa.org
AT&T Public Service Announcement and documentary “The Last Text”
www.att.com/itcanwait
Survival 101 teen safe driving program from BuckleUp PA
www.buckleuppa.org/educationalprograms For more teen driving resources, contact the Montgomery County Health Department,
610-278-5117 or [email protected]
Montgomery County
Health Department
1430 DeKalb St.
Norristown, PA 19404
610-278-5117
www.health.montcopa.org
in this issue >>>
National Distracted Driving Awareness Month Hello from Commissioner Shapiro
current topics >>>
April is National Distracted Driving
Awareness Month and the message
is simple, one text or call could wreck
it all. And teens are at an increased
risk. This newsletter is designed to
serve as a resource for parents, teens
and school personnel. Read on for
tips to prevent distracted driving.
Greetings Montgomery County! As spring approaches and the weather becomes
warmer, now is the best time for our county family to remind young people about the
dangers of distracted driving and texting while driving.
Resources for Schools
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
in the U.S. and as a county, we have also
adopted this awareness month.
As a county united, we can make a
difference. The Commissioner’s
office supports the Health
Department in their efforts to
spread this and other important
driving related messages to
residents of all ages.
This new law is a summary offense with a
$50 fine plus court costs and other fees. Law
enforcement in Montgomery County has
been cracking down on distracted
driving.
Follow Commissioner Shapiro on Twitter
@Josh_Shapiro, check out his Facebook
Page at facebook.com/JoshShapiroPA,
and email him at [email protected].
Please use this newsletter as a
guide to teen safe driving and as
always, buckle up, and drive safe. Keep
your eyes on the road.
Distracted Driving Newsletter
Montgomery County Health Department
National Public Health Week 2013
Current Topics Distractions Texting and Driving Parental Advice Ask the Experts School Resources Coming Soon
1 in 3 teens who text 1 in 3 teens who text
say they have done so say they have done so
while driving. while driving.
coming soon >>>
2014 Montgomery County Teen Safe Driving Competition
Any public or private high school is eligible to participate in the teen driving competition.
The competition is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Motor Trucking Association (PMTA) and scholarship prizes are awarded.
Students who are considered to be among the best drivers at their high school by teacher nomination compete in a county-wide competition.
The competition includes a series of written, perceptual and driving tests.
The best drivers move on to a regional competition and then statewide competition.
Any interested high school should contact the Montgomery County Health Department
610-278-5117 [email protected]
Commissioners: Joshua D. Shapiro, Chair
Leslie S. Richards, Vice Chair Bruce L. Castor, Jr., Commissioner
Printed and distributed by the Montgomery County Health Department
We understand the importance of
teaching teens to eliminate
distractions in the car and how to
be safe drivers on our county’s
roads. Parents, teachers and
school administrators are in the
best position to pass along this
important message and we thank
you for your dedication to keeping
teens safe.
TTEENEEN DDRIVINGRIVING ANDAND DDISTRACTIONSISTRACTIONS
National Public Health Week
ask the experts >>>
Is texting at a stop sign illegal?
Seat Belt Usage
All drivers and passengers under 18 year
old must wear a properly adjusted and
fastened seat belt. A driver who is under
18 years may not operate a vehicle in
which the number of passengers exceeds
the number of available seat belts.
There are three main types of distraction: 1. Visual -taking your
eyes off the road 2. Manual -taking your
hands off the wheel 3. Cognitive –taking
your mind off the wheel
Texting involves all
three types of distractions.
Source: BuckleUp PA
Protecting You While You’re on the Move
Safety on the go is often in our hands, but it’s also tied to community design. Together we can turn our streets into roads to better health.
For more information go to
www.nphw.org
distractions >>> What can you do for
Distracted Driving
Awareness Month?
Q:
Phase 1: Learner’s Permit
Six months of learning with an supervising
adult 21 years or older. 65 hours of adult
supervised driving, 10 hours must be a night
and 5 hours must be driven in bad weather.
Parent or guardian must sign off on hours.
Phase 2: Junior License
Restrictions apply to all drivers under the
age of 18 years old and include nighttime
driving restrictions and passenger
limitations. A junior license holder may not
be behind the wheel from 11pm to 5am
(exceptions can apply). The first six months
of the junior license, the driver may only
have one passenger under the age of 18
who is not an immediate family member.
After the first six months the limit is
increased to three passengers under the
age of 18 years. Other restrictions apply.
Phase 3: Unrestricted License
A full, unrestricted license is typically issued
at the age of 18, but a driver can receive this
type of license early if their driving record is
crash and conviction free for 12 months and
have completed an approved driver’s
education course.
For additional information, visit:
www.justdrivepa.org
Graduated Licenses
The PAVC Section 3316 (A) prohibits a driver from operating a motor vehicle while utilizing an interactive wireless communication device
(phone, computer, pda, etc.) to send, read, or write a text-based communication while the vehicle is in motion. Even though it is not a primary violation to text while stopped at a stop light or stop sign, it is still not a safe practice to do so. When you text, your mind is distracted and you are taking your eyes off of the roadway and off of your surroundings. Even those few seconds that you are not fully aware of what is happening on and off of the roadway could be disastrous. Best practice is to wait to use your communication device once you reach your destination or keep it turned off while operating a motor vehicle.
A:
What is a distraction?
Stop using cell phones while driving.
Inform people who call you while driving that you’d be happy to continue the conversation once you have reached your destination.
Share what you know about the dangers of cell phone use and driving.
Source: National Safety Council
Six steps you can take as a parent of a
teen driver... Establish ground rules. Set up
family rules about not texting or
talking on a handheld phone
while behind the wheel. Enforce
the limits set by the graduated
licensing program.
Sign a pledge. Have your teen
take action by agreeing to a
family contract about wearing
seat belts and not speeding,
driving after drinking or using a
cell phone behind the wheel.
Agree on penalties for violating
the pledge including paying for
tickets or loss of driving
privileges.
Educate yourself. Find out more
about this tragic problem. The
more you know, the more you will
understand the seriousness of
the issue.
Spread the word. Get involved in
educating and promoting safe
driving. Talk to friends, family and
co-workers.
parental advice >>>
Source: www.distraction.gov
Set a good example. Kids learn
from their parents. Put down
your phone while driving and
only use it when you’ve safely
pulled off the road.
Talk to your teen. Discuss the
risks and responsibilities of
driving and the danger of
dividing their attention
between a cell phone and the
road. Show them the statistics
related to distracted driving.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Montco Health Dept.
guess what i just found out...
texting takes your eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 secs! so get back to driving!!!!
yeah, i know her
i have no idea
MCHD
4.6 seconds
At 55 mph that is like driving the distance of a football
field blindfolded.
Source: www.distraction.gov
texting while driving>>>
Trooper Morgan Crummy, Community Services Officer Pennsylvania State Police Troop K - Skippack