That once-tiny child who used to cry when you left him at preschool is now an outgoing and independent 16-year-old who is ready to start — gulp — driving on his own. As most parents of young drivers know, teaching a child to drive is as much a rite of passage for the adult as the teen.

As a parent of a fledgling driver, you definitely walk a fine line. You want to emphasize the importance of safe, smart driving but also want to avoid the use of scary statistics that may just serve to alienate your teen. You don’t want your teen to ignore your great advice about driving because you peppered it with too many grim facts. Research the statistics for your own knowledge, and then use the underlying message behind these numbers to teach your teen to be a safe, courteous and responsible driver.

Create a Drive Solo Rule

The risk of being in a car accident is highest among 16- to 19-year-olds, according to the CDC. In fact, they are three times more likely as people 20 and over to be in a motor vehicle crash. While males are twice as likely as females to be involved in an accident when they are 16 to 19, those with teenage passengers in the car are also at an increased risk. Some things are out of your control, but you can dictate how many people can be in the car with your teenage driver.

For the first few months your teen has his license, do not allow him to drive other teen passengers. After six months or so, you might allow one trusted friend to ride in the car too. This rule will eliminate the distraction present with a car full of rowdy teens.

Create a No Texting Rule

Do not text and drive — either of you.

Like most teens, your kid always has a phone in his hands. Texting while steering a two-ton steel machine down the road though… that’s a big no-no.

Texting and Driving Safety has created a thought-provoking infographic. Thirty-four percent of teens say they have texted while behind the wheel. As for why they do it — in some cases, it’s because they’ve seen their folks do it too. Fifteen percent of teens have seen a parent text and drive and 27 percent of adults have sent or received texts while behind the wheel. To reduce the chance of your teen texting while driving, be a good role model. In addition, you might consider installing a dash cam in the car, at least for the first year. And have your teen sign a contract that he will keep both thumbs on the wheel, not the phone.

Study (or Brush Up on) the Road Rules

Refresh your memory on road rules while helping your teen study for the driver’s permit test. In addition to helping your teen increase his chances of passing, it will also help to refresh your own memory on the rules of the road. A whopping 72 percent of teens fail their driving test the first time, according to Driving-Tests.org. Increase your teen’s chance of passing and encourage him to take practice exams, and read through the questions. The practice will boost your own knowledge and skills too.

Each month, we are introducing you to a new maternal mover and shaker—an inspiring, make-a-difference mom right here in our own community.

Every day you see them—likely, multiple times a day: dangerously distracted drivers.

Way too many on our roads put common sense in the back seat—-prioritizing cell phone calls, text messages and other in-car diversions ahead of their own safety—and that of others.  One amazing local mom is on a mission to change that…

Meet this month’s RichmondMom with a Mission: Julie Garner of Project Yellow Light.

RichmondMom Cheryl:
What is your official title/role within Project Yellow Light?

Project Yellow Light Julie:
Ha!  A little bit of everything since this is a real scrappy organization. In all honesty, I’m co-founder.

What was the catalyst that made you decide YOU personally needed to take action?

That’s easy. Though it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever – or will ever experience.  My son Hunter was killed in a car crash in 2007 at the age of 16 years, 4 months and 23 days.
Within days, my husband, daughter and I knew we had to do everything in our power to prevent other young people dying needlessly this way.  And to prevent other moms, dads, brothers, sisters, friends from going through the hell that we did; still do.

Please tell us a bit about what you do with Project Yellow Light.

Project Yellow Light/Hunter Garner Scholarship is a national film competition for high school and college students.  It enables people to get the word out to their peers to be careful on the road; to not drive distracted.  And it also gives them ownership of this serious problem. I’m convinced that it will be the youth themselves that will put a stop to all the injury and death that keeps piling up due to teen and young adult traffic accidents.

What is the ultimate goal of the organization?

Car crashes are the number one cause of death for teenagers and young adults in the U.S.  It’s not gang violence, drug overdose, teen suicide, war, famine, some horrific disease—it’s car crashes. Our goal is to bring awareness to that and to have the youth themselves speak to each other about the dangers of distracted driving.   In doing so, they will impart positive change to this terrible phenomena.  They have the ability to talk to each other about this in ways that we adults just can’t touch.  They can change behavior through sheer peer pressure; and they are beginning to realize that texting and driving is senseless, and perhaps more importantly, that the flipside is hell.  I’m living proof of that.

What has been accomplished so far?

In three short years, PYL went from one high school in Fredericksburg, VA with a handful of teens, to a national scholarship reaching thousands in youth organizations, high schools and colleges throughout the country.  Each year we receive upwards of 500 submissions and the quality of the films keeps getting better.  We have amazing partnerships that help support our effort and give us clout; the Advertising Council, NHTSA, the National Organization for Youth Safety and Mazda.  Mazda’s partnership is through their race car division, and not only do they support PYL financially, they have a whole covey of young drivers who are passionate about our cause and talk it up around the country.  Additionally, the Ad Council takes the top two winning videos in each category (high school & college) and creates PSAs that are distributed to TV stations and media outlets across the U.S.  These films air on TV as free media for a full year cycle.  Pretty cool!

[LtoR: Julie Garner, Brittany Devasure, 2013 HS winner, David Strickland, Dir., NHTSA & Lowell Garner. Photo Credit: Make Roads Safe.]

What makes you proudest personally about your affiliation with Project Yellow Light?

My son, Hunter.  It’s my legacy for him.

What’s next on-deck?

We’re kicking off this year’s competition on October 31 and looking forward to many great, motivating film entries.  Also, one thing I say to all of our participants is that everyone who takes part is a winner.  As cool as it is to win a scholarship towards college, or have your video on TV, every single person who creates a film has their own circle of influence. And if they impact just one person and alter their driving habits, they very well may prevent a crash.  And if they prevent a crash, they may have saved a life.  That life may be their best friend’s – or their own.  It doesn’t get any bigger than that. And when you’re 16, 17, 18 up to 22 years old and you have that kind of positive impact on society, that’s huge.

How can others committed to eliminating distracted driving  get involved?

Spread the word about us, and encourage high school juniors and seniors, as well as college students, to apply.  www.projectyellowlight.com.

And while we have a lot of muscle through our affiliation with the Ad Council, NHTSA and such, we are in great need of financial support.  PYL is a 501c3 and all of the funding goes toward the scholarships themselves.  

How do your daughter and husband feel about what you are doing?

Alexandra:  “I think of Project Yellow Light as an anchor for Hunter’s memory.  It teaches us to be more humble, to love one another and to enjoy the time we have here.  It’s just one small way that my brother’s life—not death—significantly impacted me for the better.”

Lowell:  “Skies are gray. His room is incomplete.  My one and only’s gone.” 

Julie, please share any additional info you’d like to with the RichmondMom readership.

A huge thank you for allowing us to share our story. And follow us, like us, blog us, tweet us… because the more recognition we get, the more lives we’ll save.
PROJECT YELLOW LIGHT
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Julie, we cannot thank you enough for your strength and commitment to this life-saving cause…and for being a RichmondMom with a mission!

Read about our past moms here:

July RichmondMom with a Mission: Lisa Spickler-Goodwin

June RichmondMom with a Mission: Gena Reeder

Photo Credit: Dave Pyle

As a young girl visiting relatives in England, I recall sitting in the back seat of my grandfather’s 1972 Vauxhall, wearing my safety harness, careening down English country roads.  My grandfather was driving.

In his younger years, he successfully drove around wooded country lanes with hairpin turns and through the busy streets of London.  But over the years his skills had changed.  Although Granddad was behind the wheel, this effort actually took two “drivers”.  Since he was totally blind in one eye (as a result of aging), with failing vision in his “good” eye, my grandmother served as co-pilot.  “Turn left! Turn right!  Car coming on the right! Mind the lamppost!” Granny would shout.   Are you cringing yet? It was harrowing, to say the least.

Do you have a loved one who’s driving skills may have changed?   Have you observed difficulties such as trouble changing lanes, minor accidents, or getting lost on familiar routes?

Penny Eissenberg, Occupational Therapist and Director of Therapy Operations at Health South Rehabilitation Hospital in Richmond, manages the operations of their driver rehabilitation program.  Penny shared that if you suspect a problem with a loved one’s abilities, the first step is to go for a drive with the individual.

“Spending time with them (while they are) driving helps you gather information.  The driver is never going to hear a family member’s concerns if they feel they don’t have the perspective of being in the car with them.”  Penny remarked, “It’s a difficult conversation to have and you need to feel out the right time for it”. And if the time isn’t right, don’t broach the topic in the moment; but find the right time to address it.  Penny shared that it is all part of the process.  And she should know, since she has 12 years of experience guiding clients and their families through these steps.

Driver rehabilitation specialists offer a neutral, objective assessment. “I have broad shoulders, and sometimes, someone has to be the bad guy.  I can do that for families when that is necessary.”  However, the goal of driver assessment and rehabilitation is “not to stop people from driving, but rather, to help keep a person driving as safely as possible for as long as possible,” Penny continued.

“After the initial conversation, the next step is a visit to the doctor,” Penny said.  “Sometimes changes in driving can be due to a change in pharmaceuticals, or other issues which can be addressed.”

Depending on the situation, the physician may recommend a driving assessment.  Occupational therapists who specialize in driver rehabilitation are uniquely qualified to perform driver assessments, due to their training in assessment of physical, cognitive, visual and visual-perceptual abilities, as well as analyzing a task to break it down into manageable pieces (often called activity analysis).   As part of increasing safety while maintaining independence, an occupational therapist may recommend strategies such as driving during daylight hours only, or modifications to a vehicle, such as wider mirrors or booster seats.

My Granddad did eventually give up driving.  But I am sure having these tips would have been helpful in the process, both in decision making, as well as maintaining a degree of independence once his car was garaged.  If you have a concern about a friend or family member’s driving abilities, consider these tips from the American Occupational Therapy Association.

To find a list of certified driver rehabilitation specialists, click here.

Did you know that drivers who text are 23 times more likely to be in a car crash? As parents, it’s our job to put the phone down while we are driving and set the example.  Not only does it ensure that we are providing a safer ride for our children, but it also helps our kids learn safe behaviors. It also helps ensure other drivers we share the road with are safer too. Of the teens AT&T talked to for a survey on teens and driving, 77% said their parents text while driving.

And texting while driving is as dangerous as drinking and driving. It’s like driving down the road with your eyes closed for 5 or 10 seconds or more at times – driving blindly in a recipe for disaster.

That’s exactly why AT&T has launched their “It can Wait” campaign to encourage people NOT to text while driving. There is no message so important that it can’t wait if you’re behind the wheel driving. AT&T is asking everyone to join them on September 19, 2012 for a “No Text on Board – Pledge Day” and we’re joining them in this worthy effort.

There are plenty of reasons not to text while driving:

• It’s distracting
• You could have an accident and hurt yourself
• You could cause injury to your child
• You could hurt someone else on the road (or worse)
• Your life is more valuable
• You are a mom
• There are already too many distractions when driving
• It’s illegal!

Whatever the reason, it is important and we want to know “why it can wait” from your perspective.

Enter our Contest

We’re inviting our readers to leave a comment telling us “why texting while driving can wait”. Each entrant will be entered in a contest to receive an awesome Plantronics BackBeat GO – Bluetooth Stereo Headphone valued at $99.

Not only will you win a prize, but your comment may be the one that saves someone else from texting and driving – and causing an accident or worse.

We’ll post all of the comments we receive on a post here on Richmondmom.com on September 17, 2012. This will help encourage others to put down their phones while driving too. (The video below is difficult to watch, but it carries a vital message for all of us. A simple text message of “LOL” caused the death of someone hit by the person texting.)

Here’s how to enter:

1. Visit the AT&T website and sign the pledge to promise not to text while driving.
2. Then, click here to enter our contest and leave your comment.

We’ll post all comments and we’ll select a winner to receive the prize in a random drawing and announce it when the article is published. Be sure and take the pledge and PLEASE……forward this article to everyone you know and share it with your children. You may save a life.

About the Prize:

Plantronics BackBeat® GO wireless earbuds – incredibly small, amazingly light. No wires, no hassle, no compromise. Easily slips into your pocket, but still packs full‐on stereo sound. So you can listen to music, chat with friends, or watch movies on your tablet. Even play games on the go. And Bluetooth technology makes it a snap to connect wirelessly. Comfort? No problem. There are three sizes of cushioned eartips and two stabilizers for a secure, comfortable fit. Incoming call? Inline controls let you pause music to take a call, change volume, or skip tracks. Great sound in a small package. BackBeat GO. Get Going.

•  Ultralight wireless stereo earbuds
• Compact design goes anywhere
• Flat, tangle‐free cable
• Sound‐isolating buds for rich stereo sound
• Up to 4.5 hours of listening / talk time
• Perfect for smartphones and tablets
• Digital noise reduction for clear calls
• S, M, L eartips and stabilizers for a stable fit
• Inline controls for calls and music
• Onscreen battery meter