Teen Awareness Responsibility Training

TEEN RESPONSIBILITY - DRIVING IS NOT A RIGHT, BUT A PRIVLEDGE

OUR TRAINING PROGRAM

TEEN ART PROGRAM INTRO

TEEN RESPONSIBILITY

TEEN TRAINING

PARENT ART PROGRAM INTRO

FOR SCHOOLS, YOUTH GROUPS & CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

HOMEPAGE

 

 

 

 

 

It’s time to take responsibility for your actions... What you do affects those around you!

Just as when throwing a pebble into a pond and watching that one action continue through the water…what you do has a ripple affect. When Ashley died it was not only her life that was forever changed; everyone who knew her and loved her was changed forever. Lives were changed in an instant…the pain lasts forever. So next time you think it’s only about you, think again!

What if:

  • You crash and kill or seriously injure yourself?  What will this do to you family…can you try to imagine that?
  • You crash and kill your friend or sibling riding with you? How will you deal with that?
  • You did not remind you passenger to buckle-up or did not tell a teen driver to slow down…you didn't want to sound “stupid”…after the crash it was too late to say anything.

Unfortunately, most teens don’t realize how much they mean to their family and friends and, how devastated they would be without them. They live “in the moment” and don’t think about the long term consequences of actions. Well, if you’re old enough to take on the responsibility of handling a 5,000 lb. lethal weapon, you are old enough to think about your actions. 

Send out positive ripples by being responsible and helping your friends to do the same. You’ll be surprised how far it goes!

It won’t happen to me…

It happened to approximately 3,000 teens in 2010, another 300,000 were seriously injured. You may get lucky, do you really want to take the chance…are you willing to gamble with your life or the life of another? Just because you’re a level-headed kid, get good grades, and stay out of trouble…that’s not enough to protect you. It did not protect Ashley. She was the last person anyone thought this would happen to.

Think about it…

  • Neither Ashley, nor her parents ever thought it would happen to her, she was such a “together kid”, and always made good choices.
  • What are the odds of a family loosing both of their daughters in separate car crashes within a year of each other? It happened to a family in Virginia.
  • You don’t have to be drinking to get into an accident. Remember only 20% of all fatalities are due to alcohol.
  • If you don’t want to think about the fatalities…what about living with a permanent injury? Think permanent brain damage, quadriplegia, and confinement to a wheel chair. That’s what happens to over 300,000 teens every year.

So, it’s up to you and your friends. Do you want to gamble or stay alive and achieve your goals and live your dreams? Ashley dreamed big and had set wonderful goals for herself…she never reached them. They vanished in under 3 seconds.

So what can you do?

  • Limit the amount of passengers you have in the car with you. Better yet, no passengers for the first 6 months!  Check your state’s Graduated Driver Licensing laws on passenger restrictions. If you have a passenger be clear about your expectations for behavior and ask them to help you by being responsible. Think “designated passenger”!
  • Limit distractions. This means no cell phone, no loud music or channel surfing, no texting! Taking your eyes of the road for just 2 seconds can cause you to drift out of your lane. You car goes where you eyes go!  Did you know that?
  • 48% of teens respondents in a national survey stated they talked on their cell phone, at least some of the time, while driving.
  • Limit night driving. This is a particularly dangerous time for the novice driver.
  • Work out an agreement with your parents regarding missing curfew or not being comfortable about driving home (regardless of the reason). Call home; no questions asked.  Your parents will come get you. They will thank you for making a smart decision…and ask questions later! They have a right to know what happened but they also have an obligation to help keep you safe. Be prepared for any consequences that may come your way…at least you are safe!
  • Don’t be afraid to speak up if you find yourself in an unsafe situation. If someone is driving too fast or under the influence or just being careless…speak up…it could mean the difference between you (and others)  making it home alive or not. 50% of teens surveyed reported seeing passengers encourge the driver to speed and 90% reported seeing behaviours that distracted the driver.
  • Don’t borrow someone else’s car. You are not familiar with how the vehicle handles and each car handles differently (even if it is the same make and model). There is also the issue with insurance…you are not insured to drive their car.
  • Always wear a seat belt and insist that all passengers do the same!
  • Have a signed ART of Driving Teen-Parent Driving Contract.
  • Sign The ART of Driving Pledge Card and mean it!

 

 

 

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