Parents who encourage their children to get involved with teen awareness about the dangers of distracted driving are not only giving their children a gift, but they are also helping other motorists in the long run. New York personal injury lawyers know that parental involvement and teen peer pressure can make a difference in reducing the number of distracted driving accidents in Manhattan and throughout the state of New York which involve young drivers.
One way to get your children involved is to have them join a youth safety program and register for the 2011 Distracted Driving Summit taking place in Washington D.C. later this month. Not only can something of this magnitude build character and teach your child leadership skills, it can get them talking to their friends about how dangerous it is to text, surf the web or talk on their cell phone while they drive.
The National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) is hosting the popular event which is sponsored through funding by AT&T on October 17th. The Organization firmly believes that the best and most effective prevention programs are those led by teens. NOYS uses this opportunity, along with their resources, to train and empower teens that want to take on a leadership role about the dangers of driving distractions.
Business and industry leaders, as well as national organizations can now showcase their products and services at the 2011 summit. By setting up an exhibit, they can reach out to youth, advocates and industry experts to convey their ideas to reduce distracted driving accidents in the future.
The highlights of this year’s Teen Distracted Driving Summit include:
-An announcement of the 40 youth and 10 advisers who will make up the first ever 2011/2012 NOYS Teen Distracted Driving Prevention Team (TDDPT).
-Pre-training sessions and workshops for TDDPT put together by some of the top traffic safety expert companies and organizations.
-Presentations from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S Department of Transportation by some of the nation’s most prominent leaders.
Recent statistics certainly direct our attention to the under-20 age group of being the most at risk of being involved in a car accident in New York and throughout the country. In 2009, there were approximately 3,000 teens between the ages of 15 to 19 who lost their lives in a fatal car crash on our nation’s roadways. This doesn’t include the 350,000 kids in this age group nationwide that were injured, or needed medical attention after being involved in a car accident.
One NOYS member in our area that promotes teen driver safety through lifelong education is the National Road Safety Foundation. In a recent Road Buzz newsletter, the foundation asked teens what they considered to be a distracting behavior while they drive.
Some of the teen responses include dropping something in the car, eating or drinking, holding a pet on your lap, bopping to the latest tune playing on the radio or iPod, and talking to friends in the car. It is clear that teens realize that more than just a cell phone or hand-held device can lead to a distraction that could cause a serious accident.
The National Road Safety Foundation is working hard to complete its newest program, a film called “Age of Distraction” which targets teens. The film, along with discussion guides and other materials will be a good resource to use in classroom settings or group showings as it presents thoughts on the dangers and also how to deal with the problem from a teen’s perspective.
Whether it is in a classroom or at home, there needs to be a continual open dialogue with young drivers about the dangers of texting or getting distracted behind the wheel. Hitting the topic head-on could ultimately save a life in the future.
If you or a young driver that you know have been involved in a distracted driving accident in Manhattan, Queens or the surrounding areas, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC for a free appointment to discuss your claim. Call 1-877-313-7673 to speak with an attorney today.
More Blog Entries:
Recent Teen Car Accident in New York Brings up Questions about GDL Program, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, September 26, 2011.
Videos Released by NSC to Raise Awareness of Distracted Driving Car Accidents in New York and Elsewhere, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, September 23, 2011.
