ASSEMBLYMEMBER PEDRO NAVA
35TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
For Immediate Release: March 4, 2008
Contact: John Mann
Phone: (805) 483-9808

SACRAMENTO–State Assembly Member Pedro Nava announced today that he has introduced a legislative resolution, ACR 106, declaring the week of April 14 as Teen Driving Safety Week in California.

“The need for action is obvious and the statistics are grim.  Forty percent of all teen deaths are caused by motor vehicle accidents. One in 13 drivers has an accident in his or her first year of driving,” said Nava.  “This resolution and campaign launch is our joint effort to prevent the needless loss of young lives.”

The resolution is being introduced in conjunction with Impact Teen Drivers, a new public awareness and education program created by the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, the California Teachers Association (CTA), and California Casualty, a state-based insurance company. 

The Impact Teen Drivers Program will distribute on the morning of April 14, 2008 to all high schools across the state, a classroom materials package, which includes a booklet outlining the campaign and a poster series for teachers to display in their classrooms. Additionally, each package contains a short DVD with several mini documentaries about the real impact and consequences of distracted driving, an accident probability wheel and remembrance stickers for students and faculty to wear.  Impact Teen Drivers will also be launching a website with resources for teachers to integrate the classroom materials into their lessons, featuring videos, tips for parents and an interactive wall for people to create their own memorials to remember friends lost in accidents.

Rick Mattos, President of the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, added, "It's important that we reach new drivers with the tools they need to be safe so they can enjoy the freedom a driver's license gives them.  When we roll up on an accident scene involving a teenager, it's too late for prevention. We have to get to them earlier."

"The idea for creating the Impact campaign came about through our partnership with educators and law enforcement, specifically the California Association of Highway Patrolmen and the California Teachers Association. We simply realized that we were in a position to truly make a difference by bringing these groups together in a way that had not been done before to provide a life-saving message to teens,” said George Bowen, Senior Vice President of California Casualty and Board member of Impact Teen Drivers.  “We strongly believe that Impact will be a key vehicle to help apply the brakes and save lives. Our goal is to make sure every sophomore teacher/classroom has our materials to participate in this campaign on the morning of April 14, 2008.”

Added David A. Sanchez, President of the California Teachers Association, "Our teachers have the greatest access to teen drivers. We can make a real difference and save lives by educating our students about safe and unsafe driving habits. CTA is honored to partner with California Casualty and the California Association of Highway Patrolmen to deliver this message to California's teens.”