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2017 Annual Meeting

September 12–14, 2017

Aurora, Colorado

The links below contained detailed information for the upcoming 2017 Safe States Alliance Annual Meeting, taking place September 12-14, 2017 in Aurora, Colorado.

Please note:

Evaluation of a Teen Driver Safety Program

Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at 3:00 PM–4:15 PM MDT
Conference Room 6
Learning Objectives

In this session, participants will:

1. Learn about the evidence-based program Teens in the Driver Seat.

2. Learn how the program is evaluated.

3. Learn about the trends/results of the program.

Statement of Purpose

Teens in the Driver Seat is an evidence-based program that is being implemented in Nebraska high schools to reduce teen related motor vehicle related crashes, injuries and deaths. The program is implemented by a school sponsor and teens, with teens taking the lead. This peer-to-peer program is effective at changing knowledge, behavior and driving culture because teens are influencing teens. The program started in 2013 with 6 schools and has expanded to 28 in 2017.

Methods/Approach

Every school year, the Teens in the Driver Seat programs conduct the Teen Driver Experiences survey. The survey collects information on: seat belt use, nighttime driving, speeding, alcohol, distractions. Surveys have been collected and analyzed since 2013. Each school receives their own report along with an overall report. These results help guide schools in which areas need to be focused on. Also, the results are put into a fact sheet to share with schools and other traffic safety partners.

Results

The Nebraska Teen Driving Experience survey captures 17 risky driving behaviors through a survey administered in Teens in the Driver Seat participating schools. The three-year trend data is showing a positive move toward improvement in knowledge and driving behavior. Overall, 12 of the 17 areas showed improvement with five areas showing no improvement or declines. Having the results helps to guide the program in areas of concern and create programming that is needed. A total of 1,900 surveys were completed in the 2016-2017 school year.

Conclusions & Significance to the Field

The outcome of the three-year trend data shows postive movement in increased knowledge and driving behavior amongst teens in schools that particpate in the Teens in the Driver Seat Program. But, there are also results that still show needed improvement. Because Teens in the Driver Seat is a dynamic evidence-based program, one could reasonably expect more improvements in teen driver safety as programming continues and expands.

Presenters

Jeanne Bietz, MA, Nebraska Dept of Health & Human Services
Biography

Jeanne Bietz, MA, is the Motor Vehicle Safety Coordinator for the Injury Prevention Program for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. In this role, she coordinates the Drive Smart Nebraska Coalition which works to strengthen partnerships and enhance coordination and implementation of evidenced-based traffic safety activities across the state. She is the coordinator for the state’s Teens in the Driver Seat program. She has been a Child Passenger Safety Instructor since 1999 and continues to participate in trainings and check events. She currently serves on the Safe States Membership committee.

Co-Authors

Primary Contact

Jeanne Bietz, MA, Nebraska Dept of Health & Human Services
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