Each May youth across the nation come together to focus
on one of the leading causes of death for teens which is traffic related
crashes. Global Youth Traffic Safety Month was created to empower teens to
create and teach each other by utilizing traffic safety education projects and by
supporting local law enforcement in protecting teen drivers. Sadly, teenagers
are involved in three times as many fatal car crashes as all other drivers.
Many of these fatalities are preventable which is why public education is so
important.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) founded the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) which is a
collaboration of business, organizations and federal agencies that serve youth
as well as focus on youth safety and health. Together they have created many
programs that focus on educating youth on traffic safety including a website
for parents and teen drivers called UnderYourInfluence (http://www.underyourinfluence.org/), a
toolkit called YOUTH-Turn that helps teens turn adversity into constructive
opportunities, and Global Youth Traffic Safety Month which dedicates a whole
month to educating the public on safe driving tools.
According to NHTSA, more than 3,500 teen lives are lost
each year. During the summer months, the numbers of lives lost are the highest.
Traffic education is crucial now more than ever. This year, NOYS is focusing on
bike safety, teen drivers and pedestrian safety. Help young drivers in your
area have the safest summer they can by following these key steps!
Ø Just
Drive: Avoid all distractions – they can wait!
Ø Always
Buckle Up
Ø NEVER
drive impaired or ride with anyone else who is!
Ø Plan
your Route and your Ride: Always take the safest way and ride with safe
drivers.
Ø Stand
up for your own Safety: Speak up and get out if you need to!
For more information on Youth Traffic Safety Month, visit
http://www.noys.org/global_youth_traffic_safety_month.aspx.
And remember if you are ever in an emergency situation then do not hesitate to
call 9-1-1.
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