District Administration - April 2012 - (Page 62)

crisis response • scott poland preventing Teen Motor Vehicle Accidents Multifaceted approaches to making a difference. Data from the 2007 WISQarS (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and reporting System) provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that unintentional injury is the leading cause of death for 13- to 18-year-olds in the United States, with motor vehicle accidents accounting for approximately 70 percent of deaths. In total, 3,733 teens died in the year 2007 from motor-vehicle-related accidents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also surveys high school students every two years through the Youth risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YrBSS). The YrBSS provides additional data on the scope of unintentional injuries—in particular, spotlighting behaviors that may be contributing to teen deaths in motor vehicle accidents. Its 2009 report indicated the following: • Nearly 10 percent of teens rarely or never wore a seatbelt. • About 28 percent rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol one or more times in the last 30 days. • Nearly 10 percent drove when drinking alcohol one or more times in last 30 days. These data have important implications regarding prevention efforts. Graduated Driver Licensing a key prevention initiative is the graduated driver-licensing program that phases in full driving privileges for teens. Inexperienced drivers are involved in two times more crashes as experienced drivers. Several factors that play a role in teen motor vehicle accidents are overestimation of driving abilities, speeding, low risk appraisal of dangerous driving behaviors and developmental immaturity. Graduated driver licensing is in place in all U.S. states; however, many parents are still un62 April 2012 HEATHER’S LIFE OUR DAUGHTER WAS JUST 19 YEARS OLD. ON FEBRUARY 23, 2010, HEATHER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. THREE MILES FROM HOME, SHE WAS TEXTING BACK AND FORTH WITH A FRIEND. THE CONVERSATION COULD HAVE WAITED...IT WAS NOT WORTH HER LIFE. ENDED TOO SOON PLEASE DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE. COME HOME ALIVE. —Dan and Wendy Lerch, Heather’s parents, heathersstory.org aware of the restrictions associated with each phase. In an effort to keep parents informed, schools should hold informational meetings and distribute information about the graduated driver licensing laws in their respective state. There are typically three stages to the graduated driver-licensing system: 1. Supervised learner’s period 2. Intermediate licensing that limits drivingBe ahigh-risk the solution. under in part of situations except Share your story at TxtResponsibly.org supervision (driving at night and driving anytime with numerous passengers) 3. Gaining a license with full privileges and no restrictions Access to Driver education an equally important factor is student access to and completion of driver education. a recent article featured in the march 2012 journal Pediatrics highlighted several moderators that reduced the likelihood of students completing driver education in both states that mandated it as well as those that did not. Data from a 2006 survey consisting of 1,770 high school students (who held driver licenses) revealed that hispanic and african american students, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and students with lower academic achievement were less likely to about Heather’s driver education. Learn more complete story at: This TxtResponsibly.org/Heatherhow can we raises the question: Sponsored and designed by Pica Design, LLC www.picadesign.com | © 2010 TxtResponsibly.org make driver education more accessible to all students? after tragic car accidents, it is very common for students to want to do something to channel their emotions toward preventing further deaths. In 2009, one teen at University School in fort Lauderdale researched the dangers of cell phone use and texting and created a program called StatIC (Stop texting and talking in Cars) at his school. he also spearDistrict Administration http://www.heathersstory.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - April 2012

District Administration - April 2012
Contents
From the Editor
News Update
Special Ed Update
Facilities Update
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Robust and Safe BYOD
Success Breeds Success
Funding Building Projects in a Tough Economy
Widening Participation to an IB Education
Why All the Chatter about #EdChat?
Supervisor’s Opinion
Going Mobile
New Directions
Crisis Response
Student Counsel
Product Focus
Online Edge

District Administration - April 2012