The leading cause of death among teens in the United States is motor vehicle crashes, with phones causing one in every five teen distracted driving fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
To help keep teens safe on the road, The UPS Foundation teamed up with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to create UPS Road Code, a national program educating teens on safe driving techniques.
Celebrating its fifth anniversary in 2014, the highly successful UPS Road Code program enables teens to drive change for themselves and their peers through a combination of classroom sessions and the use of a driving simulator.
The program is available in 52 Boys & Girls Clubs throughout 37 U.S. cities and reaches nearly 5,000 teenagers per year nationwide.
♦ National Teen Driver Safety Week
Through the UPS Road Code program, The UPS Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America are lending their support to National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW). Held this year from October 19-25, NTDSW is a week annually designated by Congress to raise awareness of teen driver safety topics and to encourage safe teen driver and passenger behavior.
With deaths of drivers ages 16 and 17 increasing by 19 percent in the first six months of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 (Governors Highway Safety Association), the focus of NTDSW and UPS Road Code is to inspire parents, teens and educators to take a firm stance on teen driver safety within their local communities in an effort to ensure bright futures for America’s youth.
♦ Street Smarts
Reaching 15,000 teens since its inception in 2009, UPS Road Code provides participants with unparalleled training from UPS employees committed to safety within their communities. The program is largely based on the same methods used by UPS drivers, who are known for their safe driving techniques. In fact, UPS now has 7,221 members in its “Circle of Honor” program, recognizing drivers who can boast 25 years or more of safe driving. Taught by UPS employees trained as volunteer instructors, the program provides teens with a combination of classroom-based instruction, as well as time “behind the wheel” of a virtual driving simulator.
The program focuses on different safety principles, from basic instruction to the consequences of risky behaviors such as talking on cell phones, texting or drinking while driving. Teens practice what they’ve learned on the driving simulators, which feature a computer screen that serves as a windshield to the program’s interactive animation, a steering wheel and life-like gas and brake pedals.
• Driving Change
In 2014, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and The UPS Foundation continue to drive awareness of UPS Road Code and educate teens by hosting free community events at local Boys & Girls Clubs in various cities throughout the country. Events include fun activities and challenges, as well as the chance for attendees to interact with the program’s driving simulators. Participants also have the opportunity to sign a petition, pledging to make the roads safer by not driving distracted. During NTDSW, on Tuesday, October 21, UPS Road Code is hosting an event at the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens in New York City to further raise awareness for the issue both locally and nationally.
In addition, teens nationwide have the opportunity to make a difference and drive change for themselves and their peers. Using social media, such as the UPS Road Code Facebook page, teens can share online tools and resources developed to spread the word about road safety. From tips and statistics to an interactive online quiz and the safe driving petition, teens are fully equipped to help share the dangers of distracted driving.
“The UPS Road Code program is more than just a safe-driving program; it’s about encouraging teens to act as catalysts for driving change,” said Myron Gray, president, UPS U.S. operations. “For five years, UPS Road Code has offered the resources to empower teens to be ambassadors of safety, and we look forward to continuing to help them make a positive difference in their communities.
Teens, parents and others interested in learning more about safe driving and the UPS Road Code program should visit www.bgca.org/roadcode. For regular updates about the program and the national and local events, as well as helpful tips, follow UPS Road Code on www.facebook.com/roadcode.
