| Colorado high schoolers challenge peers to “Ride Like a Friend” |
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| Written by News Release | |||
| Wednesday, 22 October 2008 03:00 | |||
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Car crashes are the number one killer of teenagers in Colorado, and students at more than 40 high schools in the state are trying to change that by educating their peers about being safe and responsible drivers and passengers during National Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct. 19-25.
The students are also challenging teens at other high schools around the state to start peer-to-peer traffic safety programs in their schools. “Ride Like a Friend” is the theme of Teen Driver Safety Week, which focuses on encouraging safe passenger behaviors because distractions are a major factor in fatal crashes. Studies show that the presence of one passenger doubles the fatal crash risk for a teen driver, and the risk increases with each additional passenger. Governor Bill Ritter signed a proclamation designating Teen Driver Safety Week in Colorado as well, to focus attention on the fact that 51 drivers and passengers, ages 15 to 20, died in motor vehicle crashes in the state last year. “As a father, I can only imagine the pain these families suffer losing a child to a traffic crash,” said Governor Bill Ritter. “The state will continue working very hard to educate teens about being safe behind the wheel. We know the first few months of independent driving are the most dangerous a driver will face in his or her lifetime, and so law enforcement and parents must continue to enforce Colorado’s Graduated Driver Licensing law, which gives young drivers the chance to gain valuable driving experience with fewer distractions.” Traffic deaths for teens have decreased significantly since passenger and other restrictions were added to Colorado’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law in 2005. In the three years before the passenger restrictions were adopted, more than 100 teen drivers and passengers, ages 15 to 20, died on Colorado roadways each year. In 2006, the year after the passenger restrictions were adopted, the number of teens killed dropped to 72. Last year, 51 drivers and passengers, ages 15 to 20, died in traffic crashes — a 50 percent drop since 2003. While the overall number of teen fatalities has dropped, the percentage of teen fatalities involving teen drivers, ages 15 to 17, has increased over the past three years from 24 percent in 2005 to 37 percent in 2007. “We will continue to be vigilant in enforcing the state’s GDL law, but we also need parents’ help in making sure the law is followed at home,” said Col. Mark Trostel, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Sign a parent-teen driving agreement, don’t allow your teenager to have too many passengers during their first year of driving, establish a driving curfew, make sure they buckle up every time and set yourself as an example.” Forty-four Front Range high schools are currently participating in peer-to-peer traffic safety challenges to increase seat belt use and encourage safe driving. In Denver, the Mile High Seat Belt Challenge involves 12 high schools, including Littleton, Englewood, Denver West, Denver South, Montbello, Denver North, Broomfield, Pinnacle Charter, Gateway, Hinkley and Adams City high schools. In El Paso County, the Traffic Safety Challenge includes the following high schools: Air Academy, Aspen Valley, Bijou School, Calhan, Cheyenne Mountain, Coronado, Discovery Canyon, Doherty, Edison, Ellicott, Falcon, Fountain-Ft. Carson, Hanover, Harrison, James Irwin Charter, Lewis Palmer, Liberty, Manitou Springs, Miami-Yoder, Mitchell, Mesa Ridge, Palmer, Palmer Ridge, Peyton, Pine Creek, Rampart, Sand Creek, Sierra, St. Mary’s, Wasson, Widefield and Woodland Park. Cosette Chaput, a senior at Woodland Park High School and the student leader of the school’s Drive Smart campaign, said “Car crashes and unsafe driving are issues have heavily impacted our community, and a campaign that let’s teens talk to teens about safe driving will prevent future deaths of friends and family.” The insurance industry has joined forces to support Colorado Teen Driver Safety Week because when teens better understand the consequences of inexperienced and high risk driving it saves lives. “It is essential to focus greater attention on the tragic and financial consequences of new teen drivers carrying teen passengers and other distractions behind the wheel,” said Carole Walker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. “If teens break Colorado’s driving law that restricts teen passengers, they could quickly lose their license, their insurance and most of all it could cost them their lives.” State Farm Insurance Companies and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia played a key role in getting Congress to designate the third week of October each year as National Teen Driver Safety Week. The Ride Like a Friend campaign was developed by them and is being implemented in schools nationwide. For information on the campaign, visit www.ridelikeafriend.com. For more information on Colorado’s Graduated Driver Licensing law, visit www.coteendriver.com.
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