KANSAS CITY, MO--(Marketwire - April 8, 2010) - Highway safety offices in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Arkansas, in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), announced today a collaborative effort to promote safety among the region's young drivers. Mobile "Eyes" (Every Youth Exhibiting Safety) is a comprehensive safety campaign designed to support young drivers (ages 15 - 20 years old) and adults who impact them -- teachers, parents, law enforcement and others in a position of influence. Specific campaign activities vary state by state, but include distributing posters and pledge cards in schools with students committing to drive safely. Additionally, pledge cards will be distributed through tuxedo rental companies and florists during the prom and graduation season.
Studies show that young drivers, ages 15 to 20 years old, are especially vulnerable to death and injury on the nation's roadways -- traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in America. Mile for mile, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers. Mobile "Eyes" will focus on the three most critical areas of vehicular safety within the young demographic: alcohol, seat belts and speed.
Nationally in 2006, 25 percent of the young drivers ages 15-20 who were killed in crashes had blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels of .08 or higher at the time of the crash and 58% of young passenger vehicle occupant ages 16-20 who were killed in motor vehicle crashes, were unrestrained at the time of the fatal crash.
"Our young people are everyone's responsibility. This is clearly a high-risk age group when it comes to driving and we want to work together to keep them safe," said Romell Cooks, Regional Administrator NHTSA Region 7. "Excessive speed, improper restraint and alcohol use are particularly high in this age group and contribute significantly to unnecessary death and injury. Mobile 'Eyes' asks all of us to 'mobilize' and look out for our youth."
For more information on teen drivers go to www.nhtsa.dot.gov or call 816.329.3900.
PLEASE NOTE: THE SATELLITE FEED WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME), THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2010 ON:
Satellite Channel: Galaxy 17-19 Digital Slot "A" (C-band); downlink frequency: 4066.500 MHz (H) (Access phone: INTELSAT @ 800-321-3959)
- Romell Cooks, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Larry Sauer, Director Iowa, Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau
- Mike Sharp, Sheriff, Jackson County, Missouri
- Amy Marrs, mother of crash victim, Pittsburg, KS
- Tim Ney/Dr. Jerry Abbott, Bonner Springs High School
- SADD students -- Bonner Springs High School
Contact Information:
For information:
Ginny Vineyard 816.456.5302