Y OUNG D RIVER R ESEARCH I NITIATIVE (YRDI) SCHOOL ADVISOR WORKSHOP Part I: What and Why?

Y OUNG D RIVER R ESEARCH I NITIATIVE (YRDI) STUDENT ADVISOR WORKSHOP Part I: What and Why?

Y OUNG D RIVER R ESEARCH I NITIATIVE (YRDI) SCHOOL LEADERS WORKSHOP Part I: What and Why?

4 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Crashes aren’t accidents. Crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for adolescents. The whole school community must be involved to solve this complex problem. RLAF is a positive, evidence- based, peer-to-peer campaign that can make a difference.

5 5,000 REASONS TO GET INVOLVED That’s how many teen lives are lost in car crashes each year. SADD leaders, students and parents know this has to change. It’s time to take action - What can you do?

6 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

7 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%

8 DISTRACTIONS AND INEXPERIENCE ARE MAJOR FACTORS IN DRIVER ERROR A BIG DISTRACTION? PASSENGERS

9 PASSENGERS ARE A MAJOR FACTOR LEADING TO FATAL TEEN CRASHES One peer passenger doubles the risk of a fatal crash Three or more peer passengers raises fatal crash risk four to five times Source: Chen L, et al. Journal of the American Medical Association (2000)

10 FOR TEENS, PASSENGERS ARE A HAZARD. FOR ADULTS, PASSENGERS ARE A BENEFIT. WHY? Chen, LH, Baker, SP, Braver, ER & Li, G. JAMA (2000). Relative Crash Risk

11 YET ONLY 10% OF TEENS VIEW PEER PASSENGERS AS A MAJOR FACTOR IN DRIVING SAFETY How can we: 1)Increase awareness 2)Help drivers stay safe 3)Change passenger behavior Source: Ginsburg, KR, et al. Pediatrics. May 2008 FOR TEENS, PASSENGERS ARE A HAZARD

12 TEENS TOLD US I want my friends with me. My friends aren’t the problem! Unless…they’re: 1)Acting wild 2)Encouraging me to speed 3)Intoxicated 4)Singing/dancing

13 TEENS TOLD US They would not consider eliminating passengers for the first 6 months or first 1,000 miles after receiving their license. They will follow Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) passenger limitations and their family’s “house rules” about driving passengers.

14 TEENS TOLD US They would use these safe driving behaviors: 1)Wear seat belts 2)Establish safe driver-passenger interaction 3)Reduce driver distractions 4)Ask for help as drivers 5)Turn down radio volume RLAF builds on this!

15 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.

16 TEENS WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE RLAF can help them: 1)Understand what causes crashes 2)Find ways to be better passengers 3)Find ways to be better drivers

17 MESSAGES FOR DRIVERS Set rules. Ask for help. Expect respect.

18 MESSAGES FOR PASSENGERS Buckle up. Be there to help (give directions, answer cell phones, etc.) Show respect.

19 WE KNOW YOU’VE DONE LOTS OF PROGRAMS. WHAT MAKES THIS ONE SPECIAL? It’s positive—even fun. It’s evidence-based. It gets everyone involved. It’s free and easy to implement. It supports a safe school environment.

20 IT’S POSITIVE Teen focused and teen-delivered All about awareness Targets something teens can actually do something about

21 STAY POSITIVE--RESEARCH SHOWS: Scare tactics lead to fear 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

22 “ TEENS REALLY LIKED HEARING WHAT THEY COULD DO--VERSUS BEING TOLD WHAT NOT TO DO.” --A hospital medical administrator that helped launch RLAF in four high schools

23 IT’S EVIDENCE-INFORMED Expert research uncovered the need Teens did the talking Expert researchers and health professionals did the development Initial evaluation shows teens like it

24 IT’S EVIDENCE-INFORMED Based on science Based on data Based on good models Evaluation matters

25 IT INVOLVES EVERYONE Passengers and drivers School and community members Parents and other adults

26 Easy, broad student participation Starts the safe passenger conversation IT INVOLVES EVERYONE

27 IT’S FREE AND EASY TO IMPLEMENT Activities guide Promotional help Planning guides Pre-packaged downloadable materials

28 Network members receive: RLAF alerts Access to webinars IT’S FOR YOU Go to

29 KEY RLAF ELEMENTS Certain materials and messages are required to be used for campaign success. Friends Driving Friends poll Poll follow-up activity One other activity from the RLAF menu Distribute at least one RLAF material Add on additional materials and activities as you are able. #1

30 RLAF SUCCESS DEPENDS ON STUDENT LEADERSHIP Let students brainstorm and make decisions about what campaign components they’ll use. What will work best at our school? #2

31 RLAF SUCCESS DEPENDS ON STUDENT INPUT Advisors help guide the process and raise important issues… Which activities? What materials? What locations? What events? What funding is needed? …all while using the materials within a certain time frame. #3

32 RLAF SUCCESS DEPENDS ON STUDENT ACTIVISM Students must conduct the campaign Recruit a team Promote their campaign Get feedback #4

Y OUNG D RIVER R ESEARCH I NITIATIVE (YRDI) Available courtesy of the Research and Outreach Alliance of: Y OUNG D RIVER R ESEARCH I NITIATIVE (YDRI)

Y OUNG D RIVER R ESEARCH I NITIATIVE (YRDI) NEXT UP Getting It Started

35 Y OUNG D RIVER R ESEARCH I NITIATIVE (YDRI)