AAA Sponsors Conference to Educate Teens on Traffic Safety
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NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: Melissa Branca, Lead,
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STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY CONFERENCE TO EDUCATE TEENS ON TRAFFIC SAFETY
Florida Teens Trained to be Traffic Safety Advocates and Implement Programs at their Schools
TAMPA, Fla. (June 8, 2018) – Car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for teens and the Florida Teen Safe Driving Coalition (FTSDC) is doing something about it. By hosting its 7th Annual Leadership Academy, the FTSDC hopes to train and empower teen leaders to address the issues impacting safe driving practices in their communities. The Leadership Academy will include workshops on distracted driving, seatbelt use, impaired driving, passenger safety, and other issues relevant to traffic safety among teens.
65 teens will represent 10 Florida counties in their quest to make their community a safer place to live and drive. Attendees will be trained in effective planning strategies and leave with an action plan to organize and host a teen safe driving campaign in their home school and/or community. The teens will receive mentorship from the FTSDC members and will serve as ambassadors at local teen driving safety events in their community.
"For years, the Florida teens that attend the Leadership Academy have been able to implement strategic traffic safety campaigns back at their schools," said Melissa Branca, leader of the Florida Teen Safe Driving Coalition. "As we strive to improve that process every year, I am continually inspired by the passion that each new group of teen leaders brings to this mission."
- What: Teen Traffic Safety Leadership Academy 2018
- When: Sunday, June 10 – Wednesday, June 13, 2018
- Where: John Hopkins All Children's Hospital – 940 5th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL
- Who: High school and youth group traffic safety advocates
Sponsors and workshop presenters include: FDOT, State Farm Insurance, AAA – The Auto Club Group, Always Wear Your Seatbelt Foundation, Marion County Children's Alliance, Community Council Against Substance Abuse, Florida SADD, Anthony Phoenix Branca Foundation, Drive for Life, AT&T, FL Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, MADD, and others. For more information, email info@FloridaSADD.org or call (850) 570-8879.
About the Florida Teen Safe Driving Coalition
The Florida Teen Safe Driving Coalition was created in 2011 by the National Safety Council, in partnership with the FDOT Safety Office, to address the issue of teen traffic safety. The Coalition is comprised of 32 active members from private and public agencies/foundations who actively collaborate teen traffic safety projects, and who co-brand their own agencies with our coalition name. Our Leadership Academy is now an annual training event for Florida teens, and has resulted in major teen traffic safety campaigns held at attendee high schools, and in national recognition of our teens. The Florida Teen Safe Driving Coalition is focused on increasing education and outreach among teens and their respective caregivers, and working in partnership with other stakeholders to advance the message of teen driver safety.