Safe Communities of Wright County

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Transcript Safe Communities of Wright County

A Case Study From Wright County:
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Statistical & Cultural Change After a Decade
of Parent/Teen Meetings
Do you already conduct regular
parent/teen meetings?
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Are your meetings optional?
Are your meetings part of your mandatory
curriculum?
What percentage of parents show up to your
meetings?
SCWC- Has 100% Parent Participation
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Parent’s are “ too busy” to attend an optional
meeting.
Safe Communities of Wright County realized
that to get busy parents to attend these
meetings they needed to incorporate the
parent/teen meetings into the curriculum.
And guess what? It worked!
Safe Communities of Wright County
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Safe Communities approached the nine high
schools in Wright County to ask if they would
consider partnering on a parent/teen
program as part of the driver’s education
curriculum.
Initially three high schools signed up- after
three years all nine schools were willing to
participate.
Every Parent/Teen Must Attend
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Today, Safe Communities of Wright County
has progressed to where every parent/teen
in Wright County wishing to participate in
Driver’s Education MUST offer a parent/teen
meeting no matter if they are a public or
private based company.
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THIS IS KEY TO THE SUCCESS….
The Logistics
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Safe Communities bills the driver’s ed
program (whether it is the school, community
ed or other) $10 per student to attend the
meetings.
The Driver’s Ed programs build this fee into
the cost of taking the 30 hours of behind the
wheel.
Parents & Teens – Please sit together
Enjoy these moments of calm before your teen starts driving!
Safe Communities of
Wright County
Parent & Teen Driving
Presentation
Why are we here?
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Your teen is going from
the second safest mode
of transportation in the
world…
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To what will probably
be the most dangerous
position they will ever
be in in their lives – the
driver of a vehicle
Overview of Tonight’s Program
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Team of Presenter’s
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Crash Survivor
Law Enforcement Officer
Emergency Medical Professional
Please silence your cell phones!
Goals
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Increase teen and parent awareness of the
risks and responsibilities of teens behind
the wheel
Increase the awareness of parent influence
and role during this process
Provide practical methods for teens to
minimize crash risk and increase safety
while driving
Safe Communities of Wright County
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Nonprofit organization focused on traffic safety
since 1997
Mission is to reduce traffic crashes and the
resulting injuries and fatalities through education
and prevention efforts.
Safe Communities of Wright County
Partners
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Law Enforcement Agencies in Wright County
Wright County Public Health
Wright County Highway Department
Wright County Attorney’s Office & Court Services
Allina Health EMS
New River Medical Center
Buffalo Hospital
Wright County School Districts
Business Leaders & Concerned Citizens
Wright County Population & Crash Fatality Comparison
What is the local reality?
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Between 2000 and 2009, 22 Wright County teens
killed and nearly 1500 were injured in MVC on
roads in Wright County.
WC greatest success has been 2010, 2011, and
2012 – NO teen fatalities! This has never
happened before in Wright County.
Wright County Concerns
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Young & Inexperienced Drivers
Distracted Driving
Drunk Driving
Lack Seat Belt Use
Leading Cause of Death in Minnesota
Ages 16 - 17
Disease
13%
Other
5%
Motor Vehicle
Crash
36%
Other injury
13%
Suicide
27%
Homicide
7%
Teens have the highest crash rate
Driver crash rates per million miles traveled
40
35
30
Crashes
25
20
15
10
5
0
16
17
18
19
20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85
Age
Guest Speaker
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Asking local people who have been involved
in accidents- either as the person who
caused the accident, or been a victim of the
accident are excellent spokespeople.
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The key is to have speakers talk about what
happened and the lessons they have
learned.
Police Officer
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A local Police Officer or High School Liaison
Officer will talk about the Minnesota Traffic
Laws
Minnesota
Traffic Law
& Teens
Driving is a Privilege
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Can lose license with 3 violations in
12 month period
Any person may voluntarily surrender
their driver’s license
Parental Right to Revoke
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Parents have an authority to “Revoke Consent”
for child under 18
Revoke can occur for any reason
Only the parent can reinstate
If parent does not reinstate, teen must wait until
they are 18 years old
Forms available through MN Driver & Vehicle
Services (Withdrawal of Parent Consent PS33061)
Teen Passenger
Restriction
TEEN LAW!
 For the first 6 months of licensure: Only one
passenger under the age of 20 is permitted,
unless with a parent.
 For the second 6 months of licensure: No
more than 3 passengers under the age of 20
are permitted, unless with a parent.
 Exemption: Immediate family
 Violation is a misdemeanor
Nighttime Driving
Restriction
TEEN LAW!
 For the first 6 months of licensure:
Driving is prohibited midnight – 5am.
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Exemptions: Driving with a licensed driver age
25 or older; driving between home and
employment; driving for employment; driving
to/from home and a school event for which the
school has not provided transportation.
Violation is a misdemeanor
Cell Phone Restriction
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A permit or provisional license holder may not
operate a vehicle while communicating over, or
otherwise operating, a cellular or wireless
telephone (hand-held or hands-free) while the
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vehicle is in motion.
DYK? (Did you know….)
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is illegal for drivers of all ages to
compose, read, or send text
messages or access the internet while
on the road.
Cells & Texting by the Numbers
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The No.1 source of driver inattention is use of a
wireless device
Drivers who use a cell phone while driving are 4
times as likely to be involved in an injury crash –
texting increases it to 8 times
Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of
brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent
You travel 53 feet
moving 35 mph
per second in an vehicle
The Last Text
Seat Belts – It’s the LAW!
MN Law for All Drivers
 Driver and ALL passengers in the vehicle (in every
seat) must wear seat belts at all times.
 Passengers 15 and older who are not buckled may be
cited for a seat belt violation along with the driver
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Children under 4 must be secured in child safety seats
Children under 8 and 4’9” must be in booster seats
Law enforcement may pull you over if you or anyone in your vehicle
is not wearing a seat belt. The seat belt fine is $25, however with
added surcharges and fees, you will have to pay $115!
Importance of a Seatbelt
*In the event of a crash, drivers and
passengers are at a 5 times greater risk of
injury and fatality if even one person in the
vehicle does not buckle up!
*Note number of teens in car
Seatbelts
Estimated Costs of First DUI
Towing charge
Impound lot
Driver License Reinstatement Fee
New Driver License
Alcohol Assessment (mandatory)
Maximum Fine
Car Insurance for 3 years
Lawyer Fees
TOTAL =
$200
$18/day
$700
$19
$125
$700
$14,500
$4000
$20,262
Drug Influences
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Alcohol laws also apply to controlled substances
Teens cite cars as top place to use marijuana
Current trends show an increase in heroin as well as
shared use of prescription medication, synthetics, K-2,
bath salts.
Even be aware of supervised over-the-counter and
prescribed medications, you never know
how it will effect your new driver
Driving concerns: delayed reaction, tunnel
vision, slowed reflexes, drowsy driving …
The Traffic Stop…
What if I get pulled over?
Pull over in a safe
spot
 Stay in your vehicle
 Roll down window
 Keep a good
attitude
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The Traffic Stop…
What is going to happen?
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Officer will ask for identification
Officer will also want proof of insurance
Officer will ask questions
Safety precautions
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Lighting
Back-up
If I Crash….
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STOP
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Pull Over
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Help Injured
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Exchange
Information
Fine: $135
Ted Foss “Move Over” Law
When driving on a road with
two or more lanes, you
must keep one lane away
when passing a stopped
ambulance, fire truck or
law enforcement vehicle.
If you are not able to safety
move over, reduce your
speed!
Fine: $135
Ted Foss “Move Over” Law
When driving on a road with
two or more lanes, you
must keep one lane away
when passing a stopped
ambulance, fire truck or
law enforcement vehicle.
If you are not able to safety
move over, reduce your
speed!
Tips for Safe Teen Driving
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Don’t rely solely on Driver’s Education
Restrict number of teen passengers
Restrict night driving times
Expose teen driver to all types of driving conditions
Use your seat belt – every seat & every time
Watch following distances… don’t tailgate
Concentrate on driving
Set a good example
Be patient, calm, and supportive
Remind Parents of Their Role
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Resources such as “Roadworthy: A Parent’s
Guide to Teaching Teens to Drive” is an
excellent resource for parents to use to help
them create a successful and stress free
driver’s training experience for BOTH the
teen and the parent themselves.
Remind Parents of Their Role
Emergency Medical Service
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Ambulance Drivers who can tell their own
personal experiences and contact with the
audience are the best choices here as well.
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Or could be emergency room nurses or
doctors able to tell their own experiences and
talk about the consequences.
Crashes Aren’t Accidents
They are predictable & preventable.
NOTE:
Some of the photos/videos you are about to view are graphic in nature.
We want to be sensitive to families who have been impacted by
crashes. If you need to step out of the room, please feel free to do
so. Our intent is NOT to scare you, but to show you the real
consequences of poor choices while driving.
Causes of Teen Crashes
Wright County
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Driver
Inattention
Failure to Yield Unsafe Speed
Weather
Following too
close
Physically
Impaired
Teen Crashes by Time of Day
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
12AM
2AM
4AM
6AM
8AM
10AM
12PM
2PM
4PM
6PM
8PM
10PM
Teens & Driver Distraction
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TEXTING
Cell Phones
Friends
Eating/Drinking
Music
Mirror
No matter how much driving experience you have, multitasking while driving is an unsafe practice.
Add Personal Stories
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Add pics here
Use articles or local news stories to bring the
point closer to home.
EMS folks can tell their own personal stories
here that makes them more memorable.
Teens Failing to Yield
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Complete stops
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It only takes a driver an extra 2seconds to come to a complete
stop at a stop sign.
Making sure it is clear
to proceed
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60% of all intersection-related
crashes could be avoided if
drivers looked left-right-left
Teens & Speed
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Following distances
Weather
Road conditions
When a car travels just 10 miles faster (from 55 to 65
mph), crash force goes up 40%.
Over one-third of teen drivers think speeding is ok as
long as you don’t get caught by law enforcement.
Allstate Foundation Survey
Impaired Teens
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Alcohol & Drugs
Prescription & OTC Medicine
Fatigue
Emotions
Even a small
amount of alcohol
can influence a
driver’s judgment.
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Alcohol is not the only thing that impairs
drivers…
Lack of sleep is a MAJOR issue for teen drivers!
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Video clip example…
Teens & Seatbelts
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Teens are most likely drivers to crash and
least likely to be buckled.
Teen passengers MOST unlikely to be
buckled.
Wearing your seat belt increases chance of
surviving a crash and minimizing injuries by at
least 50%.
Two-thirds of teens killed in fatal crashes were NOT
wearing their seat belts.
Students and parents complete
evaluations after each presentation.
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From parents
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99% indicate the presentation adds value to the driver’s ed
course
91% will change the way they teach their child to drive as a
result of the information shared
88% will place driving restrictions on their child as a result of
the information shared
77% will change their own driving habits as a result of the
information shared
Students and parents complete
evaluations after each presentation
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From students
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97% indicate the presentation adds value to the driver’s ed
course
94% indicate the presentation will influence their new
driving habits
Crash Survivor” and “Crash Photos” cited as having the
most impact on them during the presentation
Remember:
The biggest factor in staying
safe on the road is
YOU!
Summary:
If we can use these meetings to get parent on
board with taking a larger role in the driver’s
training process, it’ll make it easer for
instructors to do their jobs well.
How Can You Start?
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If you are interested in receiving a copy of
this Responsible Driving Handbook for
parents
If you are interested in getting a link to the
Power Point Presentation of the Safe
Communities of Wright County Parent/Teen
Meeting
Please email us at
[email protected]