Sheriffs Telling Our Parents & Promoting Educated Drivers

Statement of maturity Means of independence Accessibility to social activities Expands horizons

“The risk for motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16 to 19 year olds than any other age group. A 16 year old driver is seven times more likely to crash than a driver 25 to 29 years old.” 7,837 National Center for Health Statistics 2003

Michigan ,682 Fatal crashes claimed a total of 2,825 lives. 592,671 Reported Crashes Injured 91,333 People

Michigan $ 9,366,721,300* *Based on 2004 OHSP Statistics. Estimated Economic Impact

Michigan 21.5 % - 15 to 24 years old

State of Michigan Drivers aged were responsible for 138,975 crashes in our state in There were 1682 fatal accidents in Michigan in Of those 362 occurred when a driver under 25 was at the wheel. These drivers represent 15.4% of the licensed drivers in Michigan, but account for 23.4% of all crashes.

Allegan County Drivers aged were responsible for 1,272 crashes in our county in Alcohol was involved in 80 of these crashes. These drivers represent 14.12% of the county population, but are responsible for 26.77% of the total crashes in our county, and 35.87% of the crashes involving alcohol.

Van Buren County Drivers aged were involved in 921 crashes in Alcohol was involved in 61 of these crashes. These drivers represent 14.29% of the county population, but are responsible for 24.89% of the total crashes in our county, and 32.1% of the crashes involving alcohol.

Contributing Factors National Traffic Safety Administration National Center for Health Statistics Insurance Institute for Highway Safety John’s Hopkins University Inexperience Risk Taking Behavior Greater Risk of Exposure

Johns Hopkins Center - Injury Research and Policy The Journal of the American Medical Association - March, 2000

Habits difficult to change once set Young drivers perceive/react to risks differently than experienced drivers Strong influences / peer pressure

How to walk How to ride a bicycle How to swim Important component of the learning cycle How to Drive

-Focuses on inexperience -Provides driving skill development Drivers Education Graduated Licensing Not readily available to every driver Limited success in producing safer drivers Successful reduction 5-8% -Extends the learners permit stage -Reduces the risk of exposures

Identify potential dangers Understand the consequences Strong positive influences Parental Supervision

Voluntary, non-intrusive, and free to parentsVoluntary, non-intrusive, and free to parents Increases parental presenceIncreases parental presence Establishes partnership with parents and law enforcementEstablishes partnership with parents and law enforcement Identifies potential problems and presents opportunity for correctionIdentifies potential problems and presents opportunity for correction Enables the enforcement of parental rulesEnables the enforcement of parental rules Parental Notification System

Always buckle up93% Never speed46% Never drink & drive92% Parents said their kids: Their kids said : Regularly drive w/o seatbelts39% Speed when driving77% Drink & drive21%

Parents register vehicles with the County Sheriff’s Office. They are issued a sticker to be displayed in the top corner of the driver’s side windshield

Enrolled vehicle stopped by sheriff’s deputy Sticker is viewed by deputy who verifies the age of the driver Deputy obtains registered number from sticker

Notification card completed and forwarded to clerk Notification card mailed to registered owner

Constant visual reminder to drivers Notification covers ANY driver under 21 Provides deputies additional enforcement alternatives Registered owners/parents made aware of circumstances Addresses issues not considered to be violations Minimal record keeping Impact miscellaneous activity 75% of kids surveyed said they would not tell their parents if stopped by police

Parents- have additional watchful eyes - know they will be informed Deputies- become early warning system - viewed as a partnership for safety Public - Making roadways safer - saving lives - saving money Young drivers - Learning to become responsible - experienced drivers

Sheriffs Telling Our Parents Promoting Educated Drivers

Program Sponsors: AAA Michigan Michigan Sheriffs’ Association