OPERATION
Teen
Safe
Driving
2011-2012
Program Year!!
IDOT/DTS is pleased to announce our FIFTH year for the Operation Teen Safe Driving Program (OTSD). IDOT/DTS, along with The Ford Motor Company Fund and The Allstate Foundation have partnered once again to bring this lifesaving, innovative grant program to Illinois high schools.
The goal of the program is to reduce teen fatalities and injuries on Illinois roadways through the creative initiative of Illinois teens. This partnership enables high schools to apply for a $2000 grant to implement a peer-led teen safe driving program within their high schools. Each school competes against others within its region. The winners not only receive prize money for their post-prom events, but they are also invited to participate in the Ford Motor Company Fund’s Driving Skills for Life Ride and Drive events. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for teens to learn critical driving techniques and skills from professional drivers while in a controlled environment.
We are happy to announce a 45 percent, four year reduction of teen fatalities on Illinois roadways. In 2007 there were 155 teen fatalities. That figure steadily decreased to 85 fatalities in 2010. But we still have a lot of work to do!!
We will select a minimum of 10 schools per region to receive the initial grant of $2000. Of those selected, five top spots will be awarded in each region.
PRIZES ARE AS FOLLOWS*:
• 7 Regional 1st place winners--$2,500
• 7 Regional 2nd place winners--$2,000
• 7 Regional 3rd place winners--$1,500
• 7 Regional 4th place winners--$1,000
• 7 Regional 5th place winners--$500
*Prize money is to be used towards funding a post-prom event
WHAT HAS WORKED IN THE PAST?
• Print your school’s safe driving message on prom/homecoming tickets, flower boxes, bumper stickers, etc.
• Sponsor a safe driving poster contest
• Arrange school assemblies --victim impact speakers, fatal goggle simulations, crash
re-enactments, etc.
• Ask local businesses to display safe driving messages on their marquees
• Develop “Ten Commandments” of safe driving
• Create driving messages for daily/weekly school announcements
• Observe the “Day of the Dead”
• Set up permanent traffic safety signs throughout community
• Film public service announcements—work with local TV stations for free air time
• Create and distribute bookmarks—distribute at schools and public libraries
• Print T-shirts, lanyards, etc with school’s safe driving message
HOW DO SCHOOLS APPLY?
Download and complete the application form www.teensafedrivingillinois.org. All applications must be submitted no later than October 3, 2011 to be considered for this year’s program. You must also show that there is a need in your community for this program. You will be notified by IDOT/DTS in writing if your school has been selected to participate.
THE HISTORY BEHIND OTSD
In the spring of 2007, OTSD was launched in rural Tazewell County after authorities noticed that automobile crashes took 15 teen lives in 15 consecutive months. There have been no additional teen fatalities in Tazewell County since OTSD was implemented.
After the success in rural Tazewell County, the Ford Motor Company Fund and the Governor’s Highway Safety Association agreed to team up, once again, with IDOT/DTS and The Allstate Foundation to take this lifesaving program statewide in 2008.
Our mission is to provide the initiative and resources required to challenge the creativity of Illinois teens to develop and implement community-based programs to reduce fatalities and injuries due to traffic crashes among their peers.
Sponsors of this program include: Governor Pat Quinn, Secretary of State Jesse White, Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider, Illinois State Police, the Ford Motor Company Fund, The Allstate Foundation and the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Financial assistance is a key component to the success of this program as it provides the incentive to challenge students and their communities to participate. The selection process requires students to identify issues relating to traffic safety in their community (i.e., underage drinking, driving unbuckled, driving impaired, driving distracted).
Students are required to provide information explaining how they would combat the traffic safety problem and implement a teen awareness program in their school and community.
~By Marianne Hankins, OTSD Coordinator
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