YOUNG DRIVER RESEARCH INITIATIVE (YDRI)

STUDENT LEADERS WORKSHOPPart I: What and Why?

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WHAT YOU’LL LEARN• Crashes are not accidents, they

have causes and most are preventable.

• Crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for adolescents.

• The whole school should be involved to help solve this complex problem.

• You can make a difference—and it’s simpler than you may think.

• The heart of Ride Like a Friend is teens talking to teens.

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5,000 REASONS TO GET INVOLVED

• That’s how many teen lives are lost in crashes each year• SADD has led the way, putting the focus on teen’s

destructive decisions behind the wheel.• It is time to take even more action

Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts, August 2008

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A CAUSE, A SOLUTION• A car “crash” is not an

“accident.”• A crash has a cause or set

of causes.• A cause could be

distracting passengers, cell phones (text or call), speeding and driving inexperience.

By understanding the cause, we can do something to prevent crashes!

12%Suicide 16%

Homicide

37%All Other

35%Motor Vehicle

LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH FOR TEENS

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WHAT CAUSES CAN COMBINE IN FATAL TEEN CAR CRASHES?*

Alcohol?Less than 20%(SADD, your work has

made a difference.)* Among 16- to 17- year-old drivers Source: Williams, et al, Journal of Public Health Policy, 16:3 (1995)

The top cause of fatal teen crashes

is driver error:

75%Speeding?About 40%

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DISTRACTIONS AND INEXPERIENCE ARE MAJOR FACTORS IN DRIVER ERRORA BIG DISTRACTION? PASSENGERS

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PASSENGERS ARE A MAJOR FACTOR LEADING TO FATAL TEEN CRASHES

• One peer passenger doubles the risk of a fatal crash• Three or more passengers raises fatal crash risk

four to five times

Source: Chen L, et al. Journal of the American Medical Association (2000)

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THE MORE PASSENGERS, THE WORSE THE DANGER.WHY?

Chen, LH, Baker, SP, Braver, ER & Li, G JAMA (2000).

Relative Crash Risk

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WHAT MAKES PASSENGERS DANGEROUS?

Teens surveyed said they don’t want passengers to:1) Act wild2) Encourage speeding3) Be intoxicated4) Sing or dance

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TEENS TOLD USSafe driving behaviors you would use

include:

1) wearing seat belts2) establishing safe driver-

passenger interaction3) reducing driver distractions4) asking for help as drivers5) turning down radio volume

RLAF builds on this!

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SOMEDAY YOU WILL DRIVE YOUR FRIENDS• RLAF recognizes and supports passenger limits:

• during the first 6 month or 1,000 miles of driving• in keeping with Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws

• Eventually you will be in full control of your car, your rules rules and the number of passengers

Safe passenger behavior will pay off today and down the road.

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MESSAGES FOR DRIVERS

• Set your rules.• Ask for help.• Expect respect.

If they’re your friends, they should help.

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MESSAGES FOR PASSENGERS

• Buckle up.• Be there to help (give

directions, answer cell phones, etc.)

• Show respect.

If you’re their friend, you should care.

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SO WE CAN BE FRIENDS AND SAVE LIVES. HOW DO WE GET STARTED?

• Keep it positive

• Remember the science (stay on message)

• Get everyone involved

• Create a campaign that works in your school

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STAY POSITIVE--RESEARCH SHOWS:

Scare tactics lead tofear and short-term change

Sources: Hale J, et al., Designing Health Messages, Sage (1995) Witte, K. et al., The Handbook of Communication and Emotion (1998)

Positive messages lead to long-term change

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REMEMBER THE SCIENCE• Teen car crashes are

the No. 1 cause of death for adolescents

• Car crashes are not accidents and most are preventable

• The top cause of fatal teen crashes? 75% are caused by Driver Error

• RLAF has been tested by teens and it works

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GET EVERYONE INVOLVED

• Passengers and drivers• School and community

members• Parents and other adults

Make sure activitiesyou plan are engagingand accessible to all!

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BE CREATIVE: MAKE A CAMPAIGN THAT WORKS IN YOUR SCHOOL• Select materials that

will be well received• Scale up or down to

your resources!• Tie the campaign to

popular events at your high school• Homecoming Game• Assembly• Spirit Week• Sports Booster Event (car

wash, dance, fund raiser

YOUNG DRIVER RESEARCH INITIATIVE (YDRI)

Available courtesyof the Research and Outreach Alliance of:

YOUNG DRIVER RESEARCH INITIATIVE (YDRI)

YOUNG DRIVER RESEARCH INITIATIVE (YDRI)

NEXT UPGetting It Started

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YOUNG DRIVER RESEARCH INITIATIVE

(YDRI)