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IN FOCUS: ARTICLE |
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Driving Force
by Amy Zavatto, 12.12.06
6,000 teenagers die each year — that's 16 each and every day — not from drugs, not from alcohol, and not from suicide, but from car accidents. |
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Are you prepared to be completely shocked? According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 6,000 teenagers die each year — that's 16 each and every day — not from drugs, not from alcohol, and not from suicide, but from car accidents. Preventable car accidents caused by chatting on cell phones, text messaging, speeding, and aggressive driving.
It's that word, preventable, that 50 activist teens around the country were trying to emphasize when they formed Keep the Drive, a nationwide movement funded by the Allstate Foundation to raise teen awareness behind the wheel. And, if they have their way, to save a whole lot of lives, too.
Road Test
These teens know that getting through to their peers is a big challenge, so this past October they rallied together in Chicago for a three-day, Keep the Drive summit, where they exchanged ideas and found new and creative ways to tackle the problem — and did a little good-natured protesting down Michigan Avenue, too.
"The activism activity we did on Michigan Avenue was so cool," says 17-year-old Jenny Regenscheid of Andover, MN. "Obviously, there were some people who were like, 'Oh, those are just teenagers doing whatever.' But a lot were like, 'Wow! It's really cool that you got involved in this — tell me about it!' It's not going to make a difference to everybody, but if it makes a difference to some people, then that's what matters."
Jenny, who is the president of her school's SADD chapter (Students Against Destructive Decisions) in Andover also found that the gathering fueled her with more than just fresh ideas. "My favorite thing about Keep the Drive, in Chicago, is that it was so cool to have teens from all over the country there for the same purpose. You feel so powerful! It's so motivating, that when you get back home you say, okay, I can do this at home, too!"
Drivers Education
To make sure of it, each teen leader who attended the summit came home with an activism toolkit, which included gear, giveaways like bumper stickers and car clings to distribute in their schools, and activities and ideas to help build the movement in their hometowns. One "Drive Crew" member, Lauren Hashaguchi of Beaverton, OR, took her knack for camera work and created a Keep the Drive "news" video, which was played to a massive crowd right before homecoming. Lauren's message comes from experience — at 17, she has already lost three family members to avoidable car accidents, as well as a close friend and his parents only a few months ago.
A lot of the teens are finding that just keeping in daily contact with each other to exchange ideas, check into the Keep the Drive website, and talk about their small and great successes at home helps to keep their spirits and motivation high. "I think we can make a difference," says 17-year-old Andrew Karasik of Wynnewood, PA. "And even if we only get to save just one life — and that's our real goal here — then I think our goals have been reached. It's certainly tough to get through to teens, but we're making progress."
More than anything, these teens want to show their peers that a little good decision-making paves the way for a long road ahead. "Making good decisions is just who I am," says Jenny matter-of-factly. She's turning 18 soon, and she's excited about her future — something she wants to make sure everyone gets to have. "I think that's what it's really about, sending a positive message. We want kids to think, okay, I'm going to be the big person, and I'm going to make the smart choices before I have to be in that 'what if' situation. That phone call or that text-message can wait!" |
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