The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that traffic deaths across the U.S. jumped another 10 percent the first half of the year, following a seven percent increase the previous year. NHTSA and other safety groups fear the numbers will be even higher for the second half of 2016 due to increased driving and warm weather. NHTSA says we are at a crisis level that needs immediate action.
The crisis is more than statistics; it involves mothers, fathers, grandparents and children who will never again celebrate the holidays or the next family gathering. Some of these heart breaking stories include:
35 year old John T. Gordon, a law enforcement officer who was struck and killed while riding his motorcycle by a young man in a truck who was texting when he swerved into oncoming traffic
Five year old Xzavier Davis-Bilbo who was hit and killed crossing the street by a young woman who was texting and driving
61 year old Linda Doyle who was killed by a young driver talking on a cell phone who ran a red light and smashed into her vehicle
Nine year old Erica Forney who was fatally run over while riding her bike by a neighbor who had looked down at her cell phone and never saw the girl
What is surprising is that these tragedies come as new safety features – autonomous breaking, lane change warnings and rear view cameras – are now available in more vehicles. Unfortunately, human error is the cause of 94 percent of today’s crashes and it’s thought that distracted and inattentive driving continues to be a major contributor to these wrecks.
If you are a parent, that should make you shudder. That’s because motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, and drivers 15 to 19 years old are three times more likely that drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash. Teen drivers are also much more likely to be distracted by a cell phone, passengers or other electronics in the vehicle than older drivers (yet adults are catching up).
Other factors contributing to teen driving deaths are that too many don’t wear seat belts, they are less experienced behind the wheel, and they are more prone to speeding.
NHTSA has mounted a campaign to remind us of the “5 to Drive” rules we all need to observe:
No cell phones while driving
No extra passengers
No speeding
No alcohol
No driving or riding without a seat belt
California Casualty believes safe driving for teens is a year-round effort. We are a major supporter and charter member of the non-profit Impact Teen Drivers program, proactively using peer-to-peer influencing and education to prevent the tragedy of distracted teen driving.
What made you want to be an Educator? “A group of teachers and staff at Mabel K. Holland Elementary School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who challenged me to join them, and together we could change the world for good, one student at a time.”
What do you like most about your job? “What do you like most about your job? “The positive exhaustion at the end of the school day, and the subsequent laughter collaborating with a community of professionals who support creativity (within the boundaries of good practice). We discuss what didn’t work, “Do not try this at home,” or what rocked, “This was awesome,” and we learn together how to teach best and serve our students.”
While working on his doctorate, Scott spent a year as a substitute teacher working with special needs students. He rose to the challenge with an amazingly positive attitude and an open mind to learn from teachers around him. Scott’s enthusiasm is throughout the classroom, whether it’s having award ceremonies for students and staff, dance parties, and songs, he is always making all students feel welcome and excited to be in his class. Colleagues say they are encouraged to put their best foot forward and strive toward high standards because of Scott being on the team.
Submitting innovative safe driving messages has paid off for students with the 2016 Fall Create Real Impact contest, presented by Impact Teen Drivers and California Casualty. After sorting through thousands of entries, awards totaling $13,000 were given for art, music, video and writing.
$1,500 Grand prizes winners are:
Carley Calfee, Toano, VA, for the poster, “You Only Have One Life”
Esteban Hiracheta, Corpus Christi, TX, for the song, “It’s Not Worth It”
Miles Kent-Pettit, Eugene, OR, for the video, “Gluv B4 U Go”
Johnathan Joyce, Madison, MS, for the poem, “Just a Passenger”
Based on the number of entries, the winning schools are Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Wilmington, DE; Beavercreek High School in Beavercreek, OH; and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Miami, FL. Each of the schools received $1,500 prizes.
Twice a year, students ages 14-22 are encouraged to submit essays or poems, artwork, videos, and music to address the critical teen distracted driving danger. Winners are determined by a panel of judges and by online voting for prizes ranging from $1,500 to $500. The contest encourages peer-to-peer messages and creative expression from students to help end the number one killer of young drivers.
“The Create Real Impact contest is a creative way to empower youth to develop life-saving messaging which is both relevant and effective at reaching peers in their social media comfort zone,” said Kelly Browning, Ph.D., Executive Director, Impact Teen Drivers.
Impact Teen Drivers has reached more than two million teens since 2007 and the Create Real Impact contest began in 2009. California Casualty is a founding partner of the nonprofit and continues to provide support for the contest. California Casualty representatives will help present checks to the winning schools and awardees.
“The importance of this contest can’t be overstated,” said California Casualty CEO Beau Brown. “While insurance can replace a mangled vehicle, we can’t replace a teenager’s life. In a split second, everything for that family changes forever; it’s a terrible tragedy that no one should endure.”
At the end of the video below, there is information regarding our “Promise to Drive Focused” giveaway. Educators who promise to drive without distractions will be entered to win a new car! Click here to enter/learn more.
Teaching can be an enormously challenging job. As a result, it’s not uncommon for teachers to sometimes wonder if the impact they make is worth the challenges they face. We thought it would be helpful to create a space where educators could come together to discuss these challenges.
And that’s exactly what we did. Thanks to help from SoulPancake, we brought 5 teachers together to discuss the challenges they face. There were a few laughs, a few tears, and some pretty incredible surprises.
Edutopia contributor Matt Davis has collected and shares some of the best resources for parents, teachers and students to prepare for the first face-to-face meeting of the school year.
We’ve all been there; that awkward moment when parents and teachers meet for the first time to discuss the progress of their children. How can you prepare, what should you say and what’s the best course of action if there’s a problem?
From ideas for highlighting student progress, to questions every parent should ask, these are some of our favorite articles and resources that cover parent-teacher conferencing. Enjoy the rest of the school year!
New Teacher Survival Guide Video: The Parent-Teacher Conference: This Teaching Channel video offers preparation ideas, a first-hand look at conducting a conference, and some great tips and strategies from parent-relationship expert Diane Feinstein. There are plenty of interesting tidbits packed into this ten-minute video, making it a perfect resource for educators of any experience level. Teaching Channel’s blog post, Beyond Parent-Teacher Conferences: Building Connections That Last, by Lily Jones, also provides useful advice for using conferences to springboard into continued dialogues with parents.
Inviting Students to Lead Conferences
Student-led conferences empower learners to take ownership of their accomplishments and their classroom goals. Yet, for many teachers, it can be a challenge figuring out how to best facilitate them. In 2015, Edutopia examined how one school in Chicago uses student-led conferences to create opportunities for reflection, engagement, and agency.
You’ll find some wonderful resources in that collection. Here are a few more ideas, guides, and tips for letting students take the lead during parent-teacher conferences:
Name: Scott M.
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