Teen Crashes GTG*
*Got to Go
Teen Safe Driving Activity Planning Guide
Registration and Report Forms
New York Teen Safe Driving Coalition
National Safety Council
The Allstate Foundation
2015-16
Table of Contents
ThisTeen Crashes GTG planning guide is available on-line at:
What is Teen Crashes GTG?...... …...... …………….…………………3
Registration Form…..……………..……………………………………………………………….4
Report Form……….………………….……………….…………………………………………..5
About theNew York Teen Safe Driving Coalition and the National Safety Council……………..6-7
New York’s GDL Law…………………………………………………………………………….. 8-9
Teen Safe Driving Resources………………………………………………………………………10
APlanning for Teen Crashes GTG Week
Getting Started…………………………………………………………………..12
Sample Planning Schedule……………………………………………………….13
Sample Assembly Agenda………………………………………………………..14
Sample Media Advisory/Media Release…………………………………………..15-16
Sample Editorial Article/Letter to the Editor…………………………………….17
BSample Hand-Outs for Teen Crashes GTG Week
How to Die in Seven-Tenths of a Second………………………………………..19
Please God, I Can’t be Dead – I’m Only 17……………………………………..20
Novice Driver Crash Risk Factors……………………………………………….21
CActivity Ideas for Teen Crashes GTG Week
Morning Announcements……….………………………………..……………..23
Chalk the Block ………………………….……………………………………...25
Quiz: Teen Crashes GTG …………………..…………………………………….26
GDL Made Simple Video Screening …………………………………………… 29
Caption Competition……………………………………………..………….…..30
Door Decorating/Poster Contest…………..…………………………………….32
Wii Work Against Impaired Driving ……………………………………………33
Battle of the Belts…………...……………………………………………………34
Game Show: Are You Smarter than Your Teen Driver? ……..………………...35
Parent-Teen Driver Contract………………………………………………….…36
Appreciate a Role at Roll Call……………………………………………………37
Traffic crashes are the #1 killer of teens in New York and in the United States. To help protect teen drivers and those with whom they share the road, the New York Teen Safe Driving Coalition has created the Teen Crashes GTG program to help you bring important information to your school about teen safe driving. This program is your opportunity to educate teens and parents about staying safe behind the wheel, while earning $200 for your organization’s lifesaving work!
The need for this program is clear:
- Teens have the highest crash rate of any age group in New York.
- In 2010, 156 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in New York.
- Over the past five years, crashes involving teen drivers in New York have claimed more than 1,000 lives.
- Nationally, since 2000, more than 85,000 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Last year, more than 30,000 students and 10,000 parents across New York received vital information about being safer drivers and passengers through Teen Crashes GTG. This year, we want to bring those messages to even more people through easy to organize, peer-reviewed programs and activities that work.
What isTeen Crashes GTG?
What:Teen Crashes GTG is a program that helps student groups organize and implement traffic safety awareness activities at their schools. Students coordinate three or moresafe driving activities – at least one of which involves parents – during a one-week period between September and May 2015. Student groups that successfully implement and report activities are eligible for a $200 incentive grant.
Who: Any school or youth group can take the lead:a student council, an athletic team, 4-H, FCCLA, SADD or Girl Scouts, to name a few. Non-profit parent or community organizations, such as PTAs, arealso eligible. Groups can work together, but just one group per school is eligible for the incentive grant.
Why:To raise awareness of teen safe driving principles and practices – and provide informationthat will helpnew and future drivers avoid crashes and save lives.
When:Now! Grab your friends, review this guide and get started! E-mail the registration form on page 4 to let us know your plans. Then complete and report on at least three activities by May 31 using the report form on page 5 to be eligible for the $200 incentive grant.
Incentive Grant Funding
The New York Teen Safe Driving Coalition, with funding from The Allstate Foundation, offers$200 incentive grants to 50 non-profit groups that hostand report on teen safe driving activities at their schoolsbyMay 31, 2016. Three teen safe driving activities – at least one involving parents – should be held during a one-week period between September 2015 and May 2016. You can use some of the activities suggested in this guideor create your own. Do whatever works for your school. Have fun organizing, hosting and taking pictures of your activities.Then report back and your group will be eligible for $200!
To get started, complete the Registration Form on page 4 and e-mail it ow – orby May 1 at the latest.E-mail the completed Report Formon page 5 by May 31, 2016 - and post a few photos of your activities on our Facebook page - and your group can receive $200 for participating. More importantly, you will be sharing vital information about safe driving that can save the lives of your friends and family.
Registration Form
Teen Crashes GTG 2015-16
E-mail completed form to: by May 1, 2016
The Teen Crashes GTG planning guide is available online at:
Name of School:______
Name of LeadOrganization:______
Address: ______
City: ______State: ______Zip: ______
Adult Contact:______Phone:______
Title: ______E-mail:______
Student Contact: ______Phone:______
Title: ______E-mail: ______
Our organization plans tocomplete the following activities (the activities listed below are described in this guide – please check all that apply; at least 3 activities must be completed within a one-week period and at least one activity must involve parents to qualify for the $200 incentive grant):
___ Morning Announcements
___ Chalk the Block
___ Quiz: Teen Crashes GTG
___ GDL Made Simple Video Screening*
___ Caption Competition
___ Wii Work Against Impaired Driving
___ Door Decorating/Poster Contest
___ Battle of the Belts
___ Game Show: Are You Smarter than Your Teen Driver?*
___ Parent-Teen Driver Contract*
___ Appreciate a Role at Roll Call
___ School Assembly
___ Information Tables
___ Media Advisory/Press Release
___ Other – please describe______
*these activities are recommended for parental involvement, but others are also eligible
Activity(s) involving parents*: ______
Designated week that Teen Crashes GTG will be held: ______
Please e-mail this one-page Registration Form at least one week before hosting programs or activities - but no later than May 1, 2016 - to schools in New York will be eligible to receive $200 incentive grants for completion of the program. Events must be completed between September 2015and May 2016. At least 3 photos of your events should be posted to our Facebook page at to verify activities. Acompleted Report Form (page 5)
must be e-mailed to by May 31, 2016 to qualify for the $200 grant.
Report Form
Teen Crashes GTG 2015-16
E-mail completed form to: by May 31, 2016
Name of School: ______
*Name of Lead Group:______
Address: ______
City: ______State: ______Zip: ______
*Check for participation will be written to “Lead Group” listed above and mailed to address provided.
Adult Contact: ______Phone:______
Title: ______E-mail:______
Student Contact: ______Phone:______
Title: ______E-mail: ______
Our organization completed the following activities (at least 3 activities must have been completed over a one-week period – with at least one activity involving parents – to qualify for the $200 grant; check all activities that apply and indicate the approximate number of students/parents who participated in each):
___ Morning Messages (number of days announcements were made =_____)
(number of students/parents who heard announcements = ______/______)
___ Chalk the Block (number of students/parents exposed to messages=______/______)
___ Quiz: Teen Crashes GTG(number of students/parents who participated = ______/______)
___ GDL Made Simple Screening(number of students/parents who participated = ______/______)
___ Caption Competition/Door Decorating Contest (number of students/parents who participated = _____/____)
___ Wii Work Against Impaired Driving (number of students/parents who participated = ______/______)
___ Door Decorating/Poster Contest(number of students/parents who participated = ______/______)
___ Battle of the Belts(number of students/parents who participated = ______/______)
___ Game Show: Are You Smarter than Your Teen Driver?
(number of students/parents who participated = ______/______)
___ Parent-Teen Driver Contract (number of students/parents who participated = ______/______)
___ Appreciate a Role at Roll Call (number of students/parents who participated = ______/______)
___ School Assembly(number of students/parents who participated = ______/______)
___ Information Tables(number of students/parents who participated = ______/______)
___ Other – please describe and indicate the number of students/parents who participated (_____/_____)______
___ Media Advisory/Press Release – please attach copies of any media coverage
Week that Teen Crashes GTG activities were held:______
Total number of students exposed to safe driving information: ______
Total number of parents exposed to safe driving information: ______
Number of student leaders organizing/implementing teen safe driving activities: ______
Number of photos posted to NY Teen Safe Driving Facebook Page: ______Date posted: ______
Activities must be completed between September 2015 and May 2016.Completed Report Form must bemust be e-mailed to y May 31, 2016, and at least 3 photos must be posted to to qualify for $200 grant.
About theNew York Teen Safe Driving Coalition
and the National Safety Council
Who we are:
The New York Teen Safe Driving Coalition is a group of concerned individuals and organizations that strive to improve theculture of teen safe driving in New York. We do this by working with teens, parents and their communities to reduce the number of teens killed and injured in crashes in New York while instilling a lifetime of safe driving attitudes and behaviors among young drivers.
What we do:
Through communications, research and project management support from the National Safety Council and funding from The Allstate Foundation, we engage, educate and mobilize communities to work collectively to develop and improve safe teen driving programs, practices and activities based on the proven principles of Graduated Driver Licensing. We partner with advocacy groups, law enforcement officials, injury prevention groups, public health practitioners, members of the medical community, parents, teens and victims of teen motor vehicle crashes to develop a network of youth safety and opinion leaders to champion our message.
The facts:
Teens go from one of the safest modes of transportation – riding in a school bus – to the deadliest – driving in a motor vehicle – seemingly overnight. Motor vehicle crashes involving teen drivers not only kill an average of 11 teens each day, they also kill other drivers, passengers and pedestrians. Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of teens. More teens die in car crashes than the next two leading causes of death combined.
We know these statistics can be changed. Teens need information and experience to become good drivers. Turning over the keys to young drivers should be done with care and responsibility. Working together, we can ensure that teens learn good driving habits and are prepared to safely take to the road.
For more information and feedback:
Let us know if you plan to participate in the Teen Crashes GTG program by e-mailing your completed Registration Form to y May 1, 2016. You are also welcome to jointhe New York Teen Safe Driving Coalition to stay involved with teen safe driving issues and share best practices.
In New York in 2010,156 people died in crashes involving teen drivers.1
Teens are inexperienced behind the wheel – and the consequences can be deadly for public safety.
- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for New York’s teens, claiming an average of123New York teen lives every year.2
- More than 15 crashes involving drivers ages 15 to 20 occur each day.3
- More than two-thirds of fatalities are occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians and teens’ passengers.4
Teens face considerable risks as new drivers.
- Adding just one passenger to a car driven by a teen increases the crash risk by 48%. That risk grows as more passengers are added.5
- Most fatal teen nighttime crashes happen before 1 a.m. Crash risk is also high in the early morning before school and in the hours immediately after school.6
- Novice drivers’ risk begins to drop with experience. The first 6 to 12 months - and 1,000 miles - that a teen drives have the highest crash risk.7
- Cell phone use while driving is deadly. Young drivers are more likely to use cell phones and text when behind the wheel.
Teensonly learn to drive by actually driving,
so minimizing their risk during the learning process is crucial.
Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) helps to maximize experience and minimize risks. GDL is proven to be effective at reducing teen drivers’ high crash risk by up to 40%.
GDL is a three-stage licensing system that includes:
- Learner Stage (Learner Permit): teen gains experience while driving with a fully licensed adult
- Intermediate Stage (Junior License): teen can drive unsupervised with certain restrictions, including passenger limits and limited nighttime driving
- Full Privilege Stage (Senior License): Teen can drive unsupervised and unrestricted after holding a provisional/intermediate license for at least 12 months
1, 3, 4, 8 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010
2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009
5 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
6 University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute
7 Mayhew, Simpson & Pak, 2003
New York’sGDL Law
1
Stage 1- Junior Learner Permit / A teen must be 16 years of age or older to apply for a junior learner permit and must hold the permit for at least 6 months. During this time, the teen must log at least 50 hours of driving practice, with at least 15 hours after sunset. With a junior learner permit, the teen must:- Only drive with a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., and only drive with a parent or guardian or driver education instructor between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- Only drive with no more than 1 non-related passenger under age 21.
A teen in New York City may only drive in a car with dual controls while holding a junior learner permit.
Stage 2- Junior License / To obtain a junior license, a teen must have held a junior learner permit for at least 6 months. With a junior license, a teen has different restrictions depending on where he or she drives in the state.
The restrictions for teens driving in Upstate New York and the Lower Hudson Valley (Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties) are as follows:
- A teen may only drive without a supervising driver between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- A teen may only drive unsupervised between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. if going directly between home and a school course or work.
- A teen may only carry one non-related passenger under age 21, and must ensure all passengers are buckled up.
- Between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., a teen may drive without a supervising driver only directly between home and work, a work-study program or evening course, a driver education course, or while engaged in farm employment. Otherwise, teens must drive with a supervising driver.
- Between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., teens may drive without a supervising driver only directly between home and a work-study program or evening course, a driver education course, or while engaged in farm employment.
- Teens may only carry one non-related passenger under age 21.
Stage 3- Senior License / The New York Department of Motor Vehicles will automatically issue a senior license at age 18 to teens who have successfully completed the junior learner permit and junior license stages. Asenior license may be issued at age 17 to ateen with a junior license who has completed a state-approved high school or college driver education course. Restrictions on where, when and with whom an intermediate driver may drive are lifted once a senior driver license has been received.
Continuing Restrictions / No driver in the state of New York may use a handheld cell phone while driving. Parents of new drivers are advised to prohibit the use of hands-free phones as well.
Complete information about New York’s laws and requirements for teen drivers is available through the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles web site at
Teen Safe Driving Resources
Many useful on-line resources provide vital information about teen safe driving. Here are a few that will be helpful as you embark on Teen Crashes GTG and start discussions about teen safe driving with students, parents and community members:
- The Teen Crashes GTG planning guide, and many other resources for teen drivers and their parents, is available from the New York Teen Safe Driving Coalition at
- is a website by and for parents dedicated to keeping teen drivers safe.
- The Allstate Foundation Teen Driving Program website at contains teen driving facts and information, as well as ways for teens to get directly involved in safe driving activities and advocacy.
- The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) website at is an interactive website by teens for teens.
- The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles’ websitecontains a great deal of useful information for new teen drivers inResources for the Young Driverat
- Information about New York’s Graduated Driving License laws is available at NYS DMV -Younger Driver - Graduated License Law at Additionally, aDriver's Manual and Study Guide is available online at in DMV offices across the state.
- The National Safety Council’s website for young drivers and their parents,Teen Drivingat contains information on Graduated Drivers Licensing and best practices for teen safe driving.
- The Younger Driver Traffic Safety Tool Kit contains materials useful for traffic safety partners working with new and young drivers. It is available at SafeNY also offers county and state data concerning traffic incidents and young drivers at
Planning for