Think & Drive Day 2014
This year's Think & Drive Day continued a longstanding CA Upper School tradition of encouraging our youngest drivers to practice safe, distraction-free driving at all times. The day's program was highlighted by a moving talk given by Linda Hills, a CA parent of three graduates, whose son James ('07) was convicted in 2008 of vehicular manslaughter and sentenced to prison. He was released after two and a half years. The pain and anguish of both the victim's family and James' family underscored the results of one night's bad decision--in this case when James got behind the wheel while intoxicated.
Many thanks to parents Ming Hall and Peggy Phillips for organizing the day and managing the many variables involved. They were assisted by many parent volunteers.
The following resources and links were sent to advisors. Given the busy week, we could not get to all of these, so feel free to share with your family. These lessons cannot be emphasized enough. Also, please see the Downloads and Links sections of the Upper School portal.
"The Last Text" youtube video link (approx. 10 min)--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZIiF96RXZE
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Many thanks to parents Ming Hall and Peggy Phillips for organizing the day and managing the many variables involved. They were assisted by many parent volunteers.
The following resources and links were sent to advisors. Given the busy week, we could not get to all of these, so feel free to share with your family. These lessons cannot be emphasized enough. Also, please see the Downloads and Links sections of the Upper School portal.
"The Last Text" youtube video link (approx. 10 min)--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZIiF96RXZE
"The Last Word" youtube video link for parents (approx. 4 min)--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DH1JGlYOL0
"From One Second To The Next" A Film By Werner Herzog - It Can Wait - YouTube (35 minutes)
Subject: How Big is the Problem of Underage Drinking and Driving?
(Some stats to talk about with the students)
Kids and teens who get involved with alcohol at a young age are 7 times more likely to be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lives.
Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teens, and roughly one-third of these accidents involve alcohol or another substance.
In 2010, about 2,700 teens in the United States aged 16–19 were killed and almost 282,000 were treated and released from emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes.
Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.
The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16-19 year olds than among any other age group.
Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.
Among teen drivers, those at especially high risk for motor vehicle crashes are:
- Males: In 2010, the motor vehicle death rate for male drivers and passengers ages 16 to 19 was almost two times that of their female counterparts.1
- Teens driving with teen passengers: The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers. This risk increases with the number of teen passengers.
- Newly licensed teens: Crash risk is particularly high during the first months of licensure.5,6
- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. In 2010, seven teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries.
Impairment is not reliant upon the type of alcohol consumed, rather the number of drinks over a certain period of time. Despite myths and misconceptions, coffee, a cold shower, or exercise will not make a person more sober; only time will.
Every 53 minutes in America, a life is lost in a drunk driving crash; that equates to 27 people every day.
Every 90 seconds, someone is injured from a drunk driving incident.
In 2011, 9,878 people were victims of drunk drivers
211 children were killed in drunk driving crashes in 2010. Of those 211 children, 62% were riding in the car with the impaired driver.
Thanks to law enforcement around driving under the influence, since 1980 the fatality rate of drunk driving has been cut in half.
Subject: What factors put teen drivers at risk?
Teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate dangerous situations or not be able to recognize hazardous situations.
Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed and allow shorter headways (the distance from the front of one vehicle to the front of the next). The presence of male teenage passengers increases the likelihood of this risky driving behavior.
Among male drivers between 15 and 20 years of age who were involved in fatal crashes in 2010, 39% were speeding at the time of the crash and 25% had been drinking.
Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use. In 2011, only 54% of high school students reported they always wear seat belts when riding with someone else.
At all levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the risk of involvement in a motor vehicle crash is greater for teens than for older drivers.
In 2010, 22% of drivers aged 15 to 20 involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes were drinking.
In a national survey conducted in 2011, 24% of teens reported that, within the previous month, they had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol and 8% reported having driven after drinking alcohol within the same one-month period.
In 2010, 56% of drivers aged 15 to 20 were killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking and driving were not wearing a seat belt.
In 2010, half of teen deaths from motor vehicle crashes occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight and 55% occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday
Subject: What is the law as it relates to underage drinking and driving
(Because underage drinkers cause a disproportionate number of alcohol-related auto fatalities, the standards are stricter and the penalties may be harsher for those under 21. Give the students the facts about the law as it relates to drinking and driving)
The drinking age in Colorado is 21 and consumption of alcohol by anyone under 21 is illegal with the following exceptions:
- on private, non alcohol-selling premises, with consent of a legal guardian -- for example, with legal guardian’s permission at a party
- for religious purposes – for example, drinking wine with religious ceremony.
- for medical purposes – for example, a physician administering a medical treatment
- for educational purposes – for example, studying at a culinary school, or
- under age drinking is not penalized if the underage drinker is calling to report a medical emergency affecting another underage drinker.
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