1. A PEER-TO-PEER SAFETY PROGRAM FOR AMERICA’S YOUTH

2. TOO MANY TEENS ARE DYING Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of teens in America About 3,500 teens per year are killed in traffic crashes in the U.S. and nearly 500,000 are injured (Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, 2009)

3. It’s like commercial airliners full of teens

4. COMMON MISCONCEPTION Drinking and driving is involved in only 13% of 16- year old driver crashes Campaigns directed at this issue are missing 87% of the problem for this age group (Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, 2009)

5. THE HIGHEST RISKS Driver inexperience, coupled with the following situations / conditions: 1. Driving at night / tired 2. Speeding and street racing 3. Distractions, such as cell phones and other teen passengers 4. Low seat belt use 5. Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (Source: National Safety Council, 2007)

6. THE TEEN BRAIN IS A WORK IN PROGRESS Prefrontal cortex – helps with reasoning and decision making - is last to develop (fully developed around age 25) What this Means: Teens are at a very real, fundamental disadvantage Teen brain less able to analytically evaluate situations Teens likely to make decisions based on impulses, rather than consequences Teens tend to engage in risky behaviors Results are increased injuries and increased fatalities (Source: J. Giedd, M.D. Journal of Adolescent Health 2008)

7. DRIVING AT NIGHT 61% of teen crash deaths occur between 6pm and 6am (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) Driving visibility is significantly reduced at night Teens need 9.25 hours per sleep, yet get an average 7.4 hours per night (Source: National Sleep Foundation, 2006 study)

8. DROWSY DRIVING More than half of all fall-asleep crashes involve young drivers (Source: National Sleep Foundation, Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, 2007) 62% of 11 th graders and 68% of 12 th graders say they drive while drowsy (Source: National Sleep Foundation, 2006 Study) Being awake for 20 hours has the same affect as being legally drunk (Source: National Sleep Foundation, 2006 Study)

9. DISTRIBUTION OF DRIVER “FALL ASLEEP” CRASHES BY AGE NCHRP Report 500, Volume 19, 2007: A Guide for Reducing Collisions Involving Young Drivers

10. SPEEDING In 2009, 39% of teen male drivers and 24% of female teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding (Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Speeding, 2009 Data) When there are teen passengers, teen drivers tend to drive faster (Source: National Institute Health and Westat) Teens are more likely to speed after they have been drinking (Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Speeding, 2009 Data)

11. THREE MAIN TYPES OF DISTRACTIONS Visual — taking your eyes off the road Manual — taking your hands off the wheel Cognitive — taking your mind off what you’re doing

12. DEADLY DISTRACTIONS More teen fatal crashes occur when passengers (often other teens) are in the car (Source: NHTSA, Teen Unsafe Driving Behavior: Focus Group Final Report, 2006) 2 out of 3 teens that died as passengers were in vehicles driven by other teens (Source: NHTSA, Teen Unsafe Driving Behavior: Focus Group Final Report, 2006) Photo by Aaron Dieppa

13. IMPACT OF TEEN PASSENGERS ON TEEN DRIVERS

14. CELL PHONE USE & TEXTING Drivers talking on a cell are 4 times more likely to be in a crash (Source: New England Journal of Medicine) Teens engage in complex, non-driving tasks more frequently than adults (Source: VTTI, 2009) Texting is the new DWI - “intexticated”

15. SAFETY BELT USE 64% of teens, aged 13 to 20, killed were not buckled up at the time of the crash (Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, 2009) Teens wear their safety belts less than other drivers (Source: NHTSA, Teen Unsafe Driving Behavior: Focus Group Final Report, 2006) Males and pickup truck drivers are the least likely to wear safety belts (Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, 2009)

16. TEXAS LAWS YOU SHOULD KNOW… Night driving, passengers now restricted for first year of driving Talking/texting on cell prohibited for all drivers under 18 No cell use in school zones, regardless of age All drivers, passengers must buckle up – front or back Driving test required at end of driver education course It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drive with any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. Up to $500 fine, 60- day driver’s license suspension, 20 to 40 hours community service, mandatory alcohol awareness classes

17. GEORGIA LAWS YOU SHOULD KNOW… No night driving between midnight – 6am under 18 First 6 months, no passengers; Second 6 months, no more than one passenger under 21; thereafter, no more than three passengers until age 18 Talking on cell prohibited for all under 18 No texting, regardless of age All passengers under 17 must be secured, 18 and over must be secured in the front seat 40 hours (including 6 hours at night) of supervised driving hours required

18. CALIFORNIA LAWS YOU SHOULD KNOW… No night driving between 11pm – 5am under 17 Talking on cell prohibited for all under 18 No texting, regardless of age First 12 months, no passengers under 20 All drivers, passengers must buckle up – front or back 50 hours of supervised driving hours required

19. TEENS IN THE DRIVER SEAT® AS PART OF THE SOLUTION Peer-to-peer program Increases awareness of all teen driving risks Decreases crashes involving teens Guidance provided by a Teen Advisory Board Science provided by Texas Transportation Institute

20. INVOLVING TEENS IS CRITICAL “Tell me something, and I’ll forget. Show me something, and I may remember it. Involve me, and I’ll understand.” -- Chinese Proverb

21. 4 STEPS TO SAVING LIVES 1. Identify Teens in the Driver Seat® team members 2. Find out what teens in your community know 3. Share what they need to know 4. Keep the program going

22. IDENTIFYING & ORGANIZING YOUR TEAM Team size of 10 to 12 students is ideal Can be a school-based organization (FCCLA, Student Council, 4-H, etc.); Or a group of volunteers Helps continuity if you involve some freshman and sophomores as well Can be done after school or during non-class times, such as lunch

23. PROJECT IDEAS – FREQUENT ACTIVITIES ARE BEST Dress your school mascot in a t- shirt at sports events. Use side walk chalk or tape to create body outlines and in them write about the top five risks. Set up an obstacle course and time teens going through it with and without distractions.

24. SAFE DRIVING PLEDGE I make this pledge both bold and brave, so someone’s life I will help to save. Watch my speed, stay awake and know the difference a drink can make. Buckle up and avoid distractions – like texting, cell phones – such deadly actions. Golden rules, simply five. Strive to keep our drive alive.

25. REACH San Antonio Yoakum Beaumont Tyler Dallas Odessa El Paso Corpus Christi Lubbock Austin Laredo Pampa La Joya Wichita Falls Waco Ft Worth Bracketville College Station Brenaham Houston Mc Allen Bronte Taft 500+ high schools and 500,000+ teens to date Also active in CA, CT and GA

26. T-DRIVER.COM Safe driving articles, stats, and facts Contests and Events Team Pages Downloadable videos, posters and media Activity ideas Order Forms Testimonials, stories

27. TEENS IN THE DRIVER SEAT® TOOLS Web site: t-driver.com Team t-shirts and jerseys TV messages and radio spots Logo, artwork Downloadable posters How-to guide Promotional items

28. FIND OUT WHAT TEENS KNOW Tool is provided to assess current awareness and driving behaviors Summary of gathered data is provided back to school Identifies awareness gaps for messaging and activities Tracks changes in awareness and behavior (post-assessment)

29. TEENS IN THE DRIVER SEAT® BANNERS Order an official banner or make your own. Use them at: Sporting Events Concession Stands Cafeteria Library Team Activities

30. NEED MORE? Positive media coverage for your school Community service credits Contests with prizes Awards Teen Advisory Board Teen of the Month

31. TEEN TRAFFIC FATALITY TRENDS / BENCHMARKS IN TEXAS 1995 On- Road Driving Test Removed 1995 On- Road Driving Test Removed Teens in the Driver Seat® Implemented GDL Implemented Parent Taught Driver Ed Implemented -40% for teens -14% for drivers 25+ years old -40% for teens -14% for drivers 25+ years old

32. FIELD STUDIES Wireless device use by drivers: down 30% Safety belt use: up 14%

33. 2011 AWARDS Governors Highway Safety Association, Peter O’Rourke Safety Award ITE Transportation Achievement Award for Safety 6 major national awards in last 6 years Identified as “national best practice for safety”, 3 years in a row

34. PROGRAM CONTACTS Program DirectorPublic Affairs Russell Henk Bernie Fette (210) 979-9411(979) 845-2623 r-henk@tamu.edub-fette@tamu.edu

35. A PEER-TO-PEER SAFETY PROGRAM FOR AMERICA’S YOUTH