| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 1762 | 2010-10-18 | Troop B | Jesuit High School Students Participate in Mock Crash during National Teen Driver Safety Week |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent TROOP B- NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Date: October 18, 2010 Jesuit High School Students Participate in Mock Crash during National Teen Driver Safety Week Troop B – On Friday, October 22, 2010, students from Jesuit High School will participate in a Mock Crash involving impaired driving. The event is taking place during this year’s National Teen Driver Safety Week which promotes safe teen driver and passenger behaviors. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15-24 and they account for more than one in three deaths for this age group. In 2008, approximately 3,500 teens were killed in crashes across the United States. The causes of these crashes can include driver impairment and driver distractions, such as cell phone usage, texting and passengers. Teens are also the leading age group for not wearing a seat belt. A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2003-2008, shows that 73% of teens killed in motor vehicle crashes were not buckled up and 43% of fatalities in 2009 were alcohol related. Louisiana State Police is dedicated to educating our teens about the dangers on our roads. We will continue to promote good decision making skills though programs that enhance the awareness and safety of our young adults. One of our programs is known as “Sudden Impact.” The purpose of the Sudden Impact Program is to prevent injuries and fatalities from impaired driving, distracted driving and unrestrained driving by raising awareness and changing both attitudes and behavior regarding alcohol and drug use. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the Louisiana State Police enhances teens’ decision making skills by offering alternatives to pursuing high risk taking behaviors. Sudden Impact provides testimony to the lifelong consequences of motor vehicle crashes from a medical, law enforcement, and victim perspectives. By partnering with the Interim LSU Public Hospital Level 1 Trauma Center in New Orleans, Louisiana and with victims within our community, we are able to provide a behavior changing seven (7) hour program to local high school sophomores to establish and reinforce safe driving skills and effective decision making. The program and the continued commitment by agencies, participants, schools, and the community, has contributed to increasing the Louisiana seat belt usage rate to 74% and decreasing fatal crashes by 10.19% over the past two years. **The Mock Crash will take place at Jesuit High School on Friday, October 22, 2010 at 10:30AM. The school is located at 4133 Banks St., New Orleans, LA 70119. All media outlets are invited to attend.** For more information contact: Trooper Melissa Matey Public Affairs Unit Louisiana State Police – Troop B Office: (504) 471-2780 melissa.matey@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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