As part of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, CIRP draws upon experts from the fields of emergency medicine, pediatric trauma, pediatric and adolescent development, epidemiology and biostatistics, bioengineering, computational engineering, psychology, behavioral development, communications, and health education.

Of particular interest is a fact sheet on the science of crash investigation. There’s a whole lot more involved than the gory details. According to CIRP, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury-related admissions to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. They also are the leading cause of death for children in the United States. Crash investigations monitor how auto-safety technologies affect children crash victims, as well as make improvements to federal safety standards and engineering design.

Findings are not only published in medical journals but also in lay person terms and given to parents, policy makers, educators, and safety product manufacturers.

This approach is a good one demonstrating how research, putting the research into action, and what kind of impact, all work together to advance safety issues.

It takes a village or so it’s said – child and teen safety is everyone’s concern.

Even though your teenage sons and daughters try to ignore what you say—they still appreciate your guidance. If you lead by good examples, they will follow. Your parenting style can greatly influence as to whether or not your child avoids or takes part in risky behaviors.

However, that’s not quite enough. If you don’t talk on the cell phone while driving and don’t text while driving – you will need reasons as well as tools as to why your teens should not be participating in distracted driving behaviors.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Set boundaries and clear expectations vs. the old and trite “do as I say not as I do” speech
2. Ensure they have been exposed to driver education & training
3. Let your teen drivers know you are available for support not criticism and punishment
4. Know where your teens are and who they are with and what time you expect them to be where they say are and back at home
5. Lead by example: Don’t speed. Don’t talk on the cell phone while driving. Don’t engage in distracted driving behaviors like fiddling with the GPS, eating & drinking while driving, etc. Wear your seatbelt at all times.

Of course, your teen will have rebuttals for all your safe driving suggestions but hey, you’re the parent, you will have responses to their responses.

Kids testing limits is part of growing up, and so is good parenting.

Teen Driver Source

As part of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The Center for Injury Research & Prevention (CIRP) advances the health and safety of children, adolescents, and young adults through comprehensive research resulting in practical tools to reduce injury and promote recovery. The focus is on translating scientific research into practical tools for families, professionals, and policy makers; addresses injury prevention to after injury healing; provides expertise to a variety of sectors from public health to clinical care; and engages organizations to extend research to the real world.

Why do teens crash?  Let us count the ways — lack of experience; something as simple as not wearing a seatbelt; distractions, speeding, peer pressure.

Are teens & crashes preventable? Absolutely, with some parental controls, gained knowledge and experience, and attitude adjustments — teens and crashes are preventable.

PSA/YouTube video – NNID – Not now I’m driving – here is a good video to watch with your teens and get their buy in for how they too can follow NNID.

Talk to your teens about talking and texting on a cell phone while driving. While the kids might think they can talk and text at the same time as driving, this web page points out the reasons why they cannot.

Two or more peer passengers more than triple the risk of a fatal crash when a teen is behind the wheel. That’s startling! Here are tips for talking to your teen about peer passengers and responsible driving.

Do distracted driving laws work? Yes, when enforced or passed into law. Not all states have distracted driving laws and sometimes the fines are so miniscule the laws are not as effective as they could be. Text messaging is banned for all drivers in 34 states and DC; 30 states also ban the use of cell phones, including hands-free, for novice teen drivers.

Etcetera:

• What kinds of things do teen drivers do that turn into distractions?
• What kinds of distractions do peer passengers create?
• How destructive are peer passengers to teen drivers?
• General statistics of interest

Most of all, you should set a good example for your teen drivers. Adults, even though you have more driving experience, should always wear their seatbelts; follow speed limits; and not text and talk on the cell phone while driving. Common sense doesn’t grow on trees. It’s a learned behavior starting with you.

The teens listened very attentively to Ms. Gonzales as she related how she, as a trauma nurse, has seen teens brought into the hospital terribly injured and told them about how times in which she has had to tell parents that their children did not survive.

On the day of the presentation, a number of students showed their support for ending distracted driving by wearing their “Victims of Volume” t-shirts, which was part of a project they created for the UGotBrains Champion Schools Program. In this project the students focused on one distraction that we many of us may not even consider a distraction: music. The students found research that shows how the level of music in a car can affect the drivers reaction time as much as 12 seconds. In distracted driving accidents, those 12 seconds can often mean the difference between life and death.

The students worked with the Emerson Police Department to produce a Public Service Announcement  to show others the danger of this specific distraction, as well as distracted driving in general:

Emerson High students also plan to enter the next NOYS contest.

** Pictured from Left to Right:Jack Williams, Meliam Gonzales, R.N. Alyse Guarriello, Joel Feldman; Theresa Santalla, Jen Budres, and Mat Eyerkuss,

We don’t think so. We think teens can be just as responsible and just as concerned (or maybe more concerned) about safety as their adult counterparts.

So which would you rather be?

Getting your driver’s license is a rite of passage or so it seems because you get a taste of independence and you and your BFFS or buddies can drive off and do something fun without being under the thumb of your parent’s watchful eyes.

Perhaps, but did you know that the more friends who are in the car with you, the more your chances are of having an accident? Why so? Because friends, even well-meaning friends, can be distracting and when you the driver do not give one hundred percent of attention to the road, to the other cars, to pedestrians and bicyclists, your chances of causing an accident or being in an accident greatly increases.

Did you know that it only takes 3 seconds to have an accident? One, two, three – how can that be? It happens when the driver ahead steps on his or her brakes too quickly; when some kid riding a bicycle darts in front of the car; or when a motorist swerves in your lane.

So you see a hazard and you mentally identify it as dangerous. You automatically scan your memory to figure out what to do about it. Then you make a decision to take action and act to avoid the hazard. All this has to happen in about 3 seconds.

Meanwhile you are texting, talking on the cell phone, messing with the CD, looking at your friend’s iPad who is looking at photos, watching your friends in the rear view mirror. How long does that take?

It takes too long to react to a possible accident in the next 3 seconds.

Do you want to save the lives of yourself, your friends, and innocent victims?

You have choice. Do you want to be a responsible teen driver or not?

In recognition of National Distracted Driving Month in April 2012, Let America Know has made a significant commitment to highlight the crisis of distracted driving in the United States. The group’s monthly newsletter, You Should Know, is devoted to the campaign to end distracted driving, and the newsletter’s featured story calls special attention to the dangers of multitasking on the road.

Perhaps the most compelling part of the April presentation is a 20-minute podcast interview with the attorney Joel Feldman, founder of the Casey Feldman Foundation and the EndDD web campaign. During the interview, host Steve Miller and Mr. Feldman discuss the current state of the campaign to end distracted driving, the Casey Feldman story, and practical strategies to reduce incidents of driving distracted.

Children model their parents’ behavior

During the interview, Mr. Feldman raises a point that is all too often neglected: the distracted-driving problem is assumed to be a behavior issue among young drivers who are too inexperienced to know better. But practical experience tells us otherwise. Young drivers are just mimicking the bad driving behavior of their parents, who should know better. “When we ask the kids — it doesn’t matter, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth grade, even college kids—when we ask them to raise their hands [to show] how many of their parents drive distracted, and with them in the car, virtually all of the hands go up in the room,” Feldman says. “So my feeling is that everyone talks about this as a youth problem … but it would be a big mistake to look on this as a youth problem. It’s everybody’s problem.”

Parents are models for their children’s behavior. We know from experience that teenagers imitate the behavior patterns of adults—good and bad habits alike. “Kids know what role models are,” Mr. Feldman observes. “You ask them about their parents—‘Were they good role models? Are they good role models for you in the car?’—and they say, ‘Well, no. Mom and Dad drive, Mom and Dad text, Dad will eat a hoagie and steer with both of his legs’ … Something’s gotta change.”

Prospects for positive change

There are some indications that change is coming, even if it’s more slowly than we would like. More and more, the topic is in the public consciousness. Some states are waking up to the issue and passing laws against distracted driving. When reporting on motor vehicle accidents, some newspapers and television news reports will now note whether distracted driving is suspected as a factor in the crash. High school driving safety programs now often include lessons devoted to distracted driving, to complement those on drunk driving, sleepy driving, and drugged driving.

Those efforts will continue. And the ongoing efforts of organizations such as EndDD, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and RULethal may spur reform through an unconventional role-model path: from child to parent. Our greatest successes so far have come in alerting young people to distracted driving dangers. Teenagers are becoming more confident in challenging the unsafe driving behaviors of their parents and other adults. If that trend can be sustained, we have set in place a pattern for positive change in the future.

Click here to Listen to the 2012 “Let America Know ” pod-cast

Shown above are, front from left, Dianne Anderson, Councilman Dave White and Joel Feldman, and back row, Council members John McBlain, Mario Civera Jr., Chairman Tom McGarrigle and Colleen Morrone.Joel Feldman and Dianne Anderson, the parents of Casey Feldman, held a large photo of their daughter while they spoke at the April 11 County Council meeting about their campaign to educate students and, in turn, their families about promoting safety on the highway.

Casey Feldman, of Springfield, was a 21-year-old Fordham University senior when she was struck and killed by a distracted driver in 2009 in Ocean City, New Jersey, when walking to her summer job.  In the aftermath of that devastating tragedy, Casey’s family and friends launched a campaign through the Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation to raise awareness of distracted driving and of the injury and grief it can cause.

“If we can prevent this from happening to another person, then we have accomplished something in the name of Casey,” Feldman said. “Distracted driving can be drinking a cup of coffee or reaching for a drink, fiddling with the radio or putting on makeup. It’s anything that takes your mind off the road and your hands off the wheel.”

Feldman is in the forefront of a North American campaign to raise awareness among adults and students of the dangers of distracted driving.  He addresses high school students and is among more than 800 speakers who will address more than 25,000 students in April and May.

Feldman said he always asks the students if their parents drive distracted and he said the students confirm that it’s adults as well as teens who need to stop all distractions while driving.

Feldman created a three-minute public service announcement for the U.S. Department of Transportation about distracted driving to be used in schools and driver education classes across the country. The video is currently airing on the county website at www.co.delaware.pa.us.

An attorney, Feldman launched the website EndDD.org to “preserve life and promote safety.” Delaware County schools interested in having him speak to their students can contact him through the website.

“While we are saddened by the circumstances that bring you here, we are really grateful that you came to today’s Council meeting to speak about this important topic,” said County Councilman Dave White, who presented a resolution to Feldman and Anderson declaring April to be Distracted  Driving Awareness Month.

“County Council supports the efforts of the Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation,” White said.

He said the distracted driving campaign fits with the County’s ongoing efforts to caution drivers that Pennsylvania law now bans texting while driving.

Delaware County Council partners with Joel Feldman and Dianne Anderson, parents of Casey Feldman, a 21-year-old Fordham University senior struck and killed by a distracted driver in 2009, to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, and the injury and grief it can cause. Shown are, front from left, Dianne Anderson, Councilman Dave White and Joel Feldman, and back row, Council members John McBlain, Mario Civera Jr., Chairman Tom McGarrigle and Colleen Morrone.

County Council joins parents of Casey Feldman to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving

Delaware County Council partners with Joel Feldman and Dianne Anderson, parents of Casey Feldman, a 21-year-old Fordham University senior struck and killed by a distracted driver in 2009, to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, and the injury and grief it can cause.

Commissioner Shapiro presented this morning to students at Abington High School along with attorney Michael Monheit from Anapol Schwartz.   

Several other attorneys from Anapol Schwartz will be presenting to various classes at Abington throughout the course of the week.

Last Week Joel Feldman  joined  Leslie Goller on Jacksonville National Public Radio WJCT 89.9 FM about Distracted Driving Awareness Month and EndDD.org’s Student Awareness Initiative. Terrell Hogan, and Joel’ firm, Anapol Schwartz, are both members of the Injury Board and were able to collaborate their efforts through the site along with the help of site  members, 60 for Safety, NoDD.org, and the American Association for Justice.

On Friday, Leslie Spoke with The Daily Record, a publication that reports on Business and Legal News in Jacksonville. Leslie Told the Record that presentations are not meant to be a lecture, but rather a creative way to reach out to the teens to get them to realize their dangerous behaviors and want to change. Leslie’s message for the teens is to Focus on Driving.  “No text or call is worth losing your life or being the cause of someone’s death”

On April 9^th, Wayne Hogan was featured in a Morning News Segment on Fox30, and later on First Coast News on April 17th, encouraging more schools to participate in the Student Awareness Initiative. Terrell Hogan attorneys are scheduled to present to 3 Florida  high schools this month. The Watrel Law Firm has also signed up to present to 2 Jacksonville schools.

Joel Feldman, Casey Feldman’s father and a lawyer, said that it was truly amazing how many trial lawyers volunteered their time to speak with students as part of this campaign.  Within weeks of announcing the program more than 800 lawyers and judges had signed on. Presentations will be given in all 50 states and many of the provinces in  Canada.

The presentations were developed with the help of researchers at Children’s Hospital’s Center for Injury Research and Prevention in Philadelphia  to work with students collaboratively to aid them to  make safe decisions about driving, reduce their distracted driving behaviors and help them feel comfortable speaking up for their safety when being driven by others who are distracted.

Joel Feldman, and the other lawyers in his firm will present to more than 6000 students in the Philadelphia metropolitan area during April.  Schools that would like presentations can arrange presentations through EndDD.org