The Teen Driving Safety Leadership Award recognizes exceptional contributions that prevent car
crashes, injuries and deaths involving teen drivers. Car crashes are the
leading cause of death for teens, killing more teens each year than the next
two leading causes of death for that age group combined.
“ADEPT Driver and Advocates for Highway
and Auto Safety have worked tirelessly to help protect our youngest and most
vulnerable drivers,” said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of NSC. “The
efforts put forth by these organizations are saving lives and preventing
injuries on our nation’s roadways.”
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
is an alliance of consumer, health and safety groups as well as insurance
companies and agents working together to make America's roads safer. The
organization encourages the adoption of federal and state laws, policies and
programs that save lives and reduce injuries. It played a critical role in the June
passage of a federal surface transportation authorization bill called Moving
Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (P.L.
112-141). The Act
includes incentives for states that meet minimum federal standards for
Graduated Driver Licensing. All safety provisions were originally included in
the Senate-passed version of the bill, but Advocates for Highway and Auto
Safety helped ensure many of the provisions were retained in the final version.
ADEPT Driver developed the program teenSMART to help educate teens on the importance of safe driving.
The teenSMART program brings parents and teens together in a structured
practice program of computer simulations and behind the wheel practice of the
specific driving challenges that contribute to the most teen crashes. Teens
need driving experience to become safe drivers and parents must understand how
to best help their teens practice. The teenSMART program provides some of that
necessary experience and understanding in a manner proven to reduce teen
crashes.
"Recognizing significant accomplishments in
the area of teen driver safety is critical," said Mike Robinson, Board of
Directors of the GM Foundation. "There are ways to solve this challenge
that involve teens and their parents and good graduated driver licensing laws. Both
organizations deserve recognition from the National Safety Council for their
work on this issue, which is so important to us all."
Representatives from both organizations
will receive their awards at the annual NSC Defensive Driving Awards Banquet,
scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20 being held during the annual NSC Congress &
Expo in Orlando.
About the National Safety Council
Founded in 1913 and chartered by
Congress, the National Safety Council (nsc.org) is a
nonprofit organization whose mission is to save lives by preventing injuries
and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through
leadership, research, education and advocacy. NSC advances this mission by
partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the
public in areas where we can make the most impact – distracted driving, teen
driving, workplace safety and safety beyond the workplace.