Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office program targets teens: Traffic crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for America's teenagers, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that while teen drivers account for only 7 percent of the driving population, they account for 14 percent of traffic fatalities and 20 percent of all traffic crashes. To address this problem, the Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office, Kansas Highway Patrol Technical Trooper Tim McCool, and John Drees of Lawrence Memorial Hospital's Community Relations Department have developed a presentation that can be used in any community.

The PowerPoint program, entitled "Ride Like a Friend," takes a multifaceted approach to helping teens address the dangers of drinking, as well as understanding state regulations on alcohol and seat belt use and the importance of driving safely. "Ride Like a Friend" is a tool safety advocates, medical professionals and law enforcement officials can use together to combat underage drinking, reckless driving and impaired driving in their own communities. It stresses the importance of teen passengers taking responsibility for limiting their distracting behaviors, as well.

The program begins by focusing on the medical consequences (including financial cost) of alcohol use. Teens are invited into "a night in the emergency room" to experience the lives of four real-life individuals negatively affected in various ways by the use of alcohol. Secondly, teens are reminded of Kansas laws regarding underage alcohol use and impaired driving. Lastly, the program addresses teen behaviors such as reckless driving that contribute to their disproportionate traffic crash and fatality rates.

KTSRO encourages you to use the "Ride Like a Friend" program in your own community. The program is free to all and can be requested by contacting Traffic Safety Specialist Kathryn Brown at 800-416-2522 or kathryn.brown@dccca.org.